The Forces of Nature

. . . your desires that battle within you? - James 4:1

Does it ever feel like there is a war going on inside your mind? As Christians our will and our desires are often at odds. We have the Holy Spirit but we can't escape our flesh. Our deepest longing is to honor God, but we also want to look out for our own interests, spoil ourselves with nice things, say mean things to the people we don't like, lie when it's more convenient than telling the truth, etc. The list could go on forever. Being a Christian doesn't exempt us from the desire to do these things.

The apostle Paul was very familiar with this inner struggle. In Romans 7 he speaks of not being able to do the things he wants to do, and instead doing the very things he hates.

So what hope is there for us? Are we to go on living tormented lives?

Paul answers that question for us in verse 24-25 when he says, "Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? ²⁵ Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord."

In Galatians 5 Paul shines more light on this conflict of natures. He characterizes the sinful nature and he describes the fruit of the Spirit. Then in verse 25 he provides us with the key to victory, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

Father, I want to stand strong against my sinful nature, and I want to honor you with my life. Help me to "keep in step with the Spirit."

By His grace,
Matt