The Way To Defeat The Flesh Is Ultimately A Matter Of Choice

A man was sitting in a rocking chair on his porch. His dog was sitting near him whimpering and howling. A neighbor walked by and asked what was wrong with the dog? The man in the rocking chair said he was sitting on a nail. The neighbor asked why the dog didn’t move? The man looked at the dog and said, “It must not hurt that much.” This story is probably not true but it speaks to an experience of life we truly understand. There are times when bad things happens to us and we have the ability to fix them but we don’t. It may be that we didn’t see the nail before we sat down but we can get up and move. Sometimes we don’t move even though it hurts to stay there. The flesh is like that nail. The flesh is the inclination to sin that all people have. After Adam and Eve sinned they and all their descendants became sinners Romans 5:12. Consequently we all have a propensity to sin. One wonderful truth of being a Christian is we can defeat the flesh. We’ve been freed from the power of the flesh to control us. It still tries! It regularly attacks us with evil desires. It is by the power of the Spirit of God that we have the ability to defeat the flesh. Here’s how according to Romans 6:11:

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

The Keys To Defeat The Flesh

1. Consider yourself dead to any attempts by the flesh to attack you.
2. Recognize when you are being attacked by an evil desire.
3. Immediately stop thinking about it.
4. Act like you’re alive to God. Tell Him what you’re feeling and thinking.
5. Choose the Spirit led desire God wants you to follow instead of the attacking evil desire.
6. Act on that right choice.

Let’s say you unexpectedly receive a tax bill for thousands of dollars. At that moment the flesh attacks! You start to feel discouraged and anxious. STOP! Your mind is being attacked by the flesh. Pray “Father, I know I am dead to the flesh, I don’t have be discouraged or worried. How do you want me to think about this trial in my life?” What desires from the Spirit do you need in your heart right then Galatians 5:22-23? Faith, love and peace. Pray, “Father, I am going to choose to believe you are in control of my life and will enable me to pay this bill. I know you love me and I won’t be discouraged by this. I choose peace instead of anxiety.” This is called walking by the Spirit Galatians 5:16. It isn’t saying these words that change things. It’s believing them. You can defeat the flesh! You may have to spend a while talking to the Father. The key is trusting Him. Take the first step and the Spirit will empower the next. If you have a question, please leave it below!