Death to Flesh

You were running well—who stopped you from obeying the truth?

Galatians 5:7 CEB

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Some days I wake up and feel like "Dear God, what you have called us to do is ridiculous.  There is NO way we can follow you and do as Christ did in this world that is so full of corruption, deceit and pain."  And then God reminds me what Jesus had to endure leading up to his death.  Then my rebuttal is "Jesus knew where he was going after, what He had to look forward to AND He knew WHO He was therefore, It made it easier for Him to endure."  Then God asks me "So, I guess you figure it was easy for Him?  Like, sweating blood comes natural?  You have been promised all that My Son has received.  You just need to embrace WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST."  I usually don't have much to say after that but my mind is often determined to take over and convince me that there is no truth in the Word and His promises and that all God has called me to do is impossible.  The battlefield of the mind continues.

I have been focusing a lot on renewing of the mind, restoring the soul and killing the flesh because it is all that stands between our death, burial and resurrection.  When we succumb to the desires and feelings of our mind and flesh we put ourselves in the position to remain stagnant, unhappy and miserable.  I know it is hard to rise above and see past our current circumstances.  I completely understand.  But I also understand that in order for me to reach my full potential and all God has in store for me, I HAVE to see past it all, which includes the past, and press forward.  Easier said than done.  Sometimes, it is EXTREMELY difficult for me to look past all that is facing me when my circumstances appear hopeless and my vision seems far-fetched.  I can literally FEEL my 'flesh' creeping up inside of me as it has resolved to self-destruct and destroy EVERYTHING I have worked so hard to accomplish.  The simple fact that I am writing this now is waging war against my 'flesh' as my 'flesh' would rather be non-productive, angry, bitter, wallow in self-pity and subject myself to ways that I know will bury me and KEEP me buried.

We will all have our moments of peace and chaos, joy and grief, happiness and anger.  It is natural - "in this life we will have trials and tribulation".  Where this becomes 'mind over matter' is how we CHOOSE to deal with it.  Although comparing myself to Jesus seems soooo ridiculous at times, it is important for me to embrace the concept in order to press forward.  We all have over 'cross' to bear, just as Jesus did.  However, the difference is that Jesus already set the precedent for victory.  In other words, although we will have "trials and tribulation", frustrations, disappointments, chaos, sickness, unrest and discontentment... we should "be of good cheer" - be at peace, grin and bear it, laugh at it, be excited - "because He has overcome the world" - He has died WITH our 'cross', was buried WITH it, left it in hell and rose from the dead FREE and CLEAR.

Because we all have an innate sense of justice - what is fair and unfair, what is right from wrong, what we deserve from what we don't deserve - we tend to 'go to far' in this mentality as we often allow ourselves to wallow in it.  And when we choose to wallow in the injustice around us, we don't give God the chance to bring us through and/or fix it.  Let's bring it back to Jesus - if He chose to stay in the Garden of Gethsemane, sweating blood, calling out to God and begging Him to 'take this cup' from Him, would He have made it to the cross?  The fact of the matter is this... there is NOTHING that we are asked to endure that Jesus has not already taken on and buried for us.  It is our choice to resurrect ourselves without holding onto what was lost, could have been, should have been and what WE THINK should be.

This is as much a Word for me as it is for most of you.    The battlefield of the mind continues as the 'flesh' is waging war against all that God has promised me.  The devil is determined to test my faith and cause me to doubt God's promises.  BUT the Word is and will forever have the last word.  The battles is already won.  I continue to challenge myself not to be like the Israelite's - grumbling and complaining about everything that seems to be going wrong as oppose to thanking God for blessing me with everything that is going well.  God is in control of all things and His timing is perfect.  BUT if we remain stuck, feeling wronged and/or shafted in our circumstances, it is probably because our 'flesh'/mind has us convinced that we are Israelite's (taking 40 years to make a 11 day journey) and that we would be better off being miserable and focusing on all that is not according to OUR plan.

God can change your circumstance with ONE thought... but you will never know what it is if your 'flesh' is ruling you and your mind is cluttered with complaints.  Thank God for getting you out of Egypt (the old you and your old life), thank God for taking you through the Red Sea (giving you grace to get through what seemed impossible), thank God for giving you Manna every morning (for waking you up, giving you a job to go to, providing all your needs).  Let's just thank God for all He has done and BRING DEATH to your fleshy, selfish, dissatisfied, discontented, complaining, nagging, critical, fault-finding, miserable, unruly, depressed self.  And I will be doing the same.   

Be Blessed in RESURRECTING OUR SPIRIT

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] - John16:33 AMP

God is Love. Love is Life. Life is in The Word.

Better NOT bitter

Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

Luke 11:4 NIV

Have you ever felt like living the ‘good life’ would feel too foreign to feel good? Too good to be true? I mean, does embracing a ‘new life’ feel like more work than its worth? Do you know EXACTLY what you should be doing to live the life that you have always dreamed of but you can’t seem to make the first step? What I’m saying might sound crazy but if you stop for a second and take an inventory of your life, how many of you are at the same place (or at a worse place) than you were last year? Two years ago? 5 years ago? 15 years ago? Are you ready for a change? So what’s holding you back?

This thought was inspired by Bishop T.D. Jakes message “What’s the Big Idea?” which is part of his Live on Purpose series. This message encompassed a few practical directives on how to fulfill your dreams, to Live on Purpose. As I listened to this message, I thought about my life and had to laugh at the truth that was staring me in my face. Bishop Jakes used Joseph as an example to support his message as Joseph had a rough life considering how his brothers threw him in a pit and subsequently sold him into slavery. Joseph’s brothers told their father that Joseph was dead and made no attempt to buy him back due to their jealousy as their father favoured Joseph. This example was used not to support the fact that every one experiences betrayal or pain but rather to show how Joseph responded to his brothers later on in life when he was in a position of power. As oppose to getting bitter and trying to take revenge on his brothers for their despicable treatment in the past he helped them and he forgave them. (Genesis 37-50)

So, what am I getting at… it took me a while to understand the significance of forgiveness in life because it was so uncommon to me. It took getting married for me to learn unconditional love, forgiveness and letting go. And though there were days that I wanted out because I told God that this wasn’t what I signed up for, I realize now that everything I learned (and I am still learning) was part of a bigger picture. I'm starting to understand that all the hurts, pains, disappointments, struggles, ups and downs were just snippets leading me to my purpose. Therefore, if I allowed the snippets to keep my stuck, I'd never get to enjoy EVERYTHING God has in store for me. By learning unconditional love, forgiveness and letting go, I’ve not only become a better person but I’ve also benefited in my marriage, my personal life and my spiritual life.

Contrary to what many of us are taught or observe in life, unconditional love isn’t ‘I love you BUT…’ because the BUT = a condition. For example, if your mother ever told you ‘I love you’ but the minute you did something she didn’t like or didn’t agree with you got the silent treatment or an attitude, that’s not unconditional love because God doesn’t love like that. Forgiveness is not, ‘I forgive you BUT I’m going to remind you about what you did every few months’ or every decision I make regarding you will be based on your past actions. What if God forgave like that? And letting go is not ‘I’ve let it go BUT’ I can’t even relate to you normally or the same way I used to because I’m holding onto the hurt. Wanting life to be better doesn‘t come from wishful thinking, it comes from letting go.

Unforgiveness will ALWAYS put you in a position of lack - lack in joy, lack in peace, lack in prosperity, lack in blessing and lack in relationships. Does this mean that people will never hurt you or disappoint you? Definitely not. What it does mean is that if you want to live the ‘good life’ you need to forgive and let go. Think of unforgiveness as ropes that are tied around your legs and keeping you from reaching your goal line. Your hands are free so all you have to do is untie yourself. But if you have become so complacent and comfortable in your hurt, unforgiveness, pain and mediocrity it is equivalent to you sitting down, legs still tied, and staring at where you want to be. You are ‘comfortable’ because you know nothing else - your unknown is beyond your goal line and that thought alone can be scary.

Well, I’m telling you life can get better. It might not feel good at first but it gets better. Loving unconditionally will hurt but its for you and God, not them. Just remember Jesus. Forgiving someone who hurt you can be REALLY hard because you want them to pay for what they did, but you do it for you and God, not them. Just remember Jesus. And the hardest part, letting go. That is the one element that stands between you and your great marriage, you loving relationships and your dreams. Just remember Jesus. Bishop Jakes concluded his messages by stating that Jesus never would have reached his Resurrection if He never loved unconditionally, forgave and let go. And I know He went through more than ANY of us could ever complain about. So I choose to be better not bitter. I choose to arise.

Be Blessed in YOUR RESURRECTION


²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. - Genesis 50:20 NIV

³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” - Luke 23:34a NIV