Daily Devotional
The Battle Within You
“For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”
1 John 2:16
August 11, 2021
Ponder This
What is the lust of the flesh? What does that mean? That is Satan’s appeal to your old nature. When the Bible says: “the flesh” here, it doesn’t mean your hide, your hair, your skin, your nerves, your sinews, your bones. When the Bible says: “the flesh,” that means your old nature that is from Adam. The flesh is what we received from our first birth. Spirit is what we receive from our second birth. Galatians 5:17 says: “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” When you get saved, a civil war begins on the inside. Have you felt it? There’s your new nature that wants to serve God, but there’s also your old nature that doesn’t want to lie down and be dead, so you’re going to have a battle on the inside. Jesus has promised to give us the power to fight this battle and the promise that His Spirit can overcome our flesh.
- How have you experienced the battle between your flesh and the Spirit of God within you?
- What can you do to feed the Spirit and starve the flesh daily?
Practice This
Think back over the last week. Make a list of actions that resulted from following the Spirit and from following the flesh in your life. Consider how you might lean further into the Spirit’s work in your life.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
