Encouragement

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Why is it that I wage war with in myself? I yearn to do the right thing, but end up doing the wrong thing. I strive to reveal myself (who I am in Christ), but end up loosing the opportunities given at the time. I always seem to make the wrong decisions, and end up paying the price for them. You cursed man! You live under the curse! A glance at the past is filled with wretched memories, and I am filled with conflicted emotions

I am torn into two directions, and one in the middle, tugged both directions by the two. My spirit strives for the will of God, while my flesh lust after it’s own desires, and in between the two is my mind. Each strive to gain control over my mind. If I give my mind over to the flesh, then I will die as the scriptures says, and I know also by the scriptures that you have to walk in the spirit, and apart from the spirit it is impossible to please God. However my flesh seeks after it’s own desires. It lust for temporary pleasures, as well as perversions. Why is this what I crave? Why is the flesh’s will so easy to do, but the spirit’s will so distant, and unwanted? No matter how hard I try to fight the cravings of the flesh, I still seem to do the will of the flesh. Even when I try to walk by the spirit, then the flesh steps in and brings confusion to my mind. I can not tell whether it is God speaking to me, or if it is of my own mind. This confusion causes me to make unwise decisions, and then again I pay the debt for them.

In the scriptures it is written that I must take up my cross and crucify my flesh, but is it that easy? Can you just say to the one whom you have known from birth to die? Is it easy to commit suicide? When you crucify your flesh, then you can no longer live by the flesh, and whatever is learned from the flesh then has to be unlearned. Then whatever is spirit must then be learned, so you can walk by the spirit. Because you can not love with God’s love in the flesh, for God’s love can not live in the flesh, and I know I can not please God while I am still a slave to the flesh. Does living by the flesh mean God hates me? Am I in a place of loosing my salvation? Though my flesh is wretched and weak, I know my spirit is safe. I believe the Lord when he said I will neither leave you nor forsake you, and those the Father has given him, he will never turn away. Then what is it? What shall I do? Shall I continue on as I am, or shall I believe in the author and finisher of our faith?

That’s it! How can I change myself? I can not! How can I die to my flesh myself? I can not! Then what do I do? I believe in the one who was sent! The one who turned Gods wrath from me, and gave me atonement from my transgressions. So does this mean I can just keep on sinning and still be saved? This would be a foolish deed, for I know that the wages of sin is death. I know that the disobedient will live under the curse, and the obedient live under the blessings of God. However I also know that I can not change myself, for I do not want too. If I wanted to then I would not need Jesus, and I could save my own self. I know that I can not save myself, I know I can not do away with sin on my own, but I know that God will lead me in paths of righteousness for his name sake. I know he will change me and guide me through the dark valleys of life. When it is time for me to quit doing something that is not beneficial to his will, then he will provide a way, so I can not boast and say I did it on my own terms, and out of my own strength. I know that he will never allow me to be tempted beyond what I can handle, and in each situation, he provides me a way out. I am his grace manifested! I am the reason why he went to the cross, so I can receive his abundant grace. He has justified me from sin’s grasp, and he is doing a work in me. A little at a time, God is pruning me into the image of his son. I know when God looks upon me, he sees his son, not my sin. He can see nothing else, for that is the whole purpose. Though I did not love him, he loved me, and he gave his life for me so I can have life. Without him I would be damned, and without hope, but with him I have his undying promise of abundant life. With Jesus, I have no condemnation; God’s wrath has been turned away from me. In him I have a purpose, and a divine plan, fashioned by the King of All, before I was even born. So I know that there is neither height or depth, angel nor demons, principalities or powers, and no man can separate God’s love and eternal gift from me. No matter how wretched I feel, and weaknesses I possess, I know Jesus has purified me with his blood, and by his strips I am healed from my infirmities. In my weaknesses I am strong in Jesus, for it is him that keeps me from sinking. It is then by his strength that I am able to stand, and continue on; growing deeper, and becoming more rooted in his love. I know there is absolutely no way I can disappoint God. There is nothing I can do that God did not already know I would do. In fact, he uses the sins in my heart, so I would know that I can not do it on my own. It shows me how weak I am in myself, and how much I need his love and mercy. I am a wretched man, but glory be to God that he has provided me with a means to escape. Jesus is the answer, and he is the peace of God given unto me, so I am no longer a slave to sin. Sin no longer has any rights to me, for Jesus has taken those rights away. With those rights he gives mercy to whom he gives mercy, and salvation to whomever ask for salvation.

So wretched man, how long will you live in condemnation? How long will you turn away this precious gift? Shall I continue on listening to the accusations with in my mind, or shall I believe in God’s promise to me? No I will no longer listen to the accuser in my mind! I know that every scripture is God breathed and the truth. Who am I to question my salvation, when the scripture says there is no condemnation in Christ our Lord. In fact, this gives me a sigh of relief! I know that God is producing a good work in me, even though I do not see it now, for it takes time to grow a strong productive fruit tree. I myself can not produce good fruit on my own. The grower must first shape the tree, and prune off the bad branches; allowing it to grow deep roots, so it can handle the fruit it is about to bear. I am a fruitful tree growing in him, and soon by his mighty power, I will bear good fruit for his name sake. Now I believe, and I ask you not to let go! Guard your salvation! Do not let the enemy torment you with lies. Though I am a wretched man doing what I do not want to do, I know for a fact that I am made righteous by the son of the living God. I am being refined, and purified by his blood, so that I will be made ready for the end. As he leads me through the darkness by his light, I will not let go of my salvation in Christ. I will not sway to the enemy’s tactics! Behold, here am I Lord, your servant. I am clay upon your potter’s wheel, as you sculpt me into the image of your son.

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