The hard part of being Christian is that we are still earthbound creatures and have to deal with the pull of our flesh. We know what we should do and we know what we should not do, but like Paul we often do what we should not do and do not do what we should do (Romans 7:15-23).
Over and over the bible shows us that our mind is the greatest obstacle in the act of following Jesus.
When our mind dwells on the things of the flesh it cannot dwell on the things of God at the same time. In some cases we might be able to go back and forth with an astounding speed, but light and darkness cannot occupy the same space. We should also note that when our minds are focused on sin it keeps us from communion with Holy God (Psalm 66:18, Mark 11:25). Whether the iniquity is unforgiveness, anger, gossip, idolatry, sexual, substance use, etc… does not matter. By holding on to these things we deny God the first place in our thoughts and lives.
The Israelites were told (Deut 11:18-21) to keep the law always before them and to always talk about it and what God had done for them. We are told to focus our thoughts on good things (Philippians 4:8-9) and I can think of nothing better than the fact that Jesus shed His blood for us.
When we are filled with the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-18, Ephesians 5:18-20) there is no room for the flesh to dwell. The light of the living God expels the darkness, but we are given the choice of which to hold on to. We must choose to hold on to Jesus at all costs. When we do all the concerns of the flesh will be taken care of (Matthew 6:33).
The simple fact is we cannot defeat our own flesh (Romans 7:15-23). We do not have the will or the power, but by the grace of God it has been defeated for us (Romans 8:1-6). We simply have to let go and let God deal with it. Focus on Jesus always. It is no coincidence that the first of the two great laws that Jesus gave us (Matthew 22:37) ends with “all your mind”.
Over and over the bible shows us that our mind is the greatest obstacle in the act of following Jesus.
When our mind dwells on the things of the flesh it cannot dwell on the things of God at the same time. In some cases we might be able to go back and forth with an astounding speed, but light and darkness cannot occupy the same space. We should also note that when our minds are focused on sin it keeps us from communion with Holy God (Psalm 66:18, Mark 11:25). Whether the iniquity is unforgiveness, anger, gossip, idolatry, sexual, substance use, etc… does not matter. By holding on to these things we deny God the first place in our thoughts and lives.
The Israelites were told (Deut 11:18-21) to keep the law always before them and to always talk about it and what God had done for them. We are told to focus our thoughts on good things (Philippians 4:8-9) and I can think of nothing better than the fact that Jesus shed His blood for us.
When we are filled with the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-18, Ephesians 5:18-20) there is no room for the flesh to dwell. The light of the living God expels the darkness, but we are given the choice of which to hold on to. We must choose to hold on to Jesus at all costs. When we do all the concerns of the flesh will be taken care of (Matthew 6:33).
The simple fact is we cannot defeat our own flesh (Romans 7:15-23). We do not have the will or the power, but by the grace of God it has been defeated for us (Romans 8:1-6). We simply have to let go and let God deal with it. Focus on Jesus always. It is no coincidence that the first of the two great laws that Jesus gave us (Matthew 22:37) ends with “all your mind”.
