Reading Myself

Reading myself on August 6, 2013 written on January 5, 2010 and this phrase from Scripture stood for attention: 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, [source].

The flesh lusts against the Spirit. 

Flesh. That would be my old unregenerate nature with which I was born.

Spirit. That would be the new nature infused into my being at the moment of rebirth.

Lust. a passionate or overwhelming desire or craving [source].
An even more appropriate definition, I think, is that lust is desiring to or actually fulfilling any legitimate passion, desire, or craving in an illegitimate or ungodly, unholy way.

And so with this background thinking, this is the message I heard: my flesh is constantly trying to overthrow (in acts of war) my Spirit in order to satisfy my legitimate needs, passions, desires, and cravings in an unholy way; unholy being any way other than the way GOD has prescribed in His Word by HIS SPIRIT for my needs, passions, desires, and cravings to be fulfilled.

Romans 7:15 I don’t understand my own behavior — I don’t do what I want to do; instead, I do the very thing I hate! 16 Now if I am doing what I don’t want to do, I am agreeing that the Torah is good. 17 But now it is no longer “the real me” doing it, but the sin housed inside me. 18 For I know that there is nothing good housed inside me — that is, inside my old nature. I can want what is good, but I can’t do it! 19 For I don’t do the good I want; instead, the evil that I don’t want is what I do! 20 But if I am doing what “the real me” doesn’t want, it is no longer “the real me” doing it but the sin housed inside me. 21 So I find it to be the rule, a kind of perverse “torah,” that although I want to do what is good, evil is right there with me! 22 For in my inner self I completely agree with God’s Torah; 23 but in my various parts, I see a different “torah,” one that battles with the Torah in my mind and makes me a prisoner of sin’s “torah,” which is operating in my various parts. 24 What a miserable creature I am! Who will rescue me from this body bound for death? 25 Thanks be to God [, he will]! — through Yeshua the Messiah, our Lord!

To sum up: with my mind, I am a slave of God’s Torah; but with my old nature, I am a slave of sin’s “Torah.”

via Romans 7 NKJV;CJB – Freed from the Law – Or do you not – Bible Gateway.

And one more to sum up.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who gives me power.

via Phil 4:13 NKJV;CJB – I can do all things through Christ who – Bible Gateway.

Kathie

P.S. Summer has been full and ABBA continues to be AWESOME in ALL He is and does. Autumn is approaching and plans are forming for ministry and fun. Blessings to you my Friends!

Just Wondering (again)

IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2010

Just Wondering

I don’t know if I am going any where with this; just making a note right now.  Why do I think I have to do everything important first thing in the morning – reading, writing, praying, drink a bottle of water, exercise, get out of my pjs, brush my teeth, take a shower, wash my hair, dry my hair, etc. etc.?  So I don’t have to think about it the rest of the day? Maybe.  But that won’t work with meditating on Scripture or praying.  I need conversation with Daddy God ALL day long!

And two, I am big on lists, making them but not doing them and then feeling like a failure because I didn’t.  So then I spend time NOT making lists and then find important things go undone and then I feel like a failure.  Where’s the happy medium? I am wondering if today a means to a happy medium is forming.  When I teach and on those rare occasions when I used to speak, I did not use notes.  Sure I wrote the message as I studied The Word and I read it over and over but when I stood to speak, I just opened my mouth and the Holy Spirit drew upon what I had put in and I was as surprised as the audience at what I said.  And you know what? I loved it!  I couldn’t do it any other way.  So I am wondering if that is who I am and the way I am to operate on a day to day basis.  You know…study to show myself approved and just go from minute to minute working with Him from what I have studied?  That would include His Word and notes I make to myself in Sunday School class, in Worship Service, riding in the truck, standing in line, sitting at a basketball game – just anywhere a good thought comes to mind; and then meet with Him with all my notes when I wake up and go from there each day.  My notes and lists would still be useful but I would not feel tied to them and like a failure if everything on the list didn’t get done everyday.  I wonder? 

And three, something that Joyce Meyer said today – we cannot make our lists, prioritize them and be done with it once and for all.  Emotionally, I think that is what I have been looking for.  A one size fits all — once and for all list of do this, do this, do this and you will be skinny, happy and productive. Duh!  She said, and I am, again, paraphrasing, of course, that I might as well get used to it – re-evaluations on a regular basis must be a part of our lives.  Get over it and get on with it!  Life is messy – just do what you know to do day by day to live holy and stay in touch with God; and all the rest will work out – body, soul and spirit.  Hmmm. 

Is this making any sense to anybody? Is there anybody out there like me? Just wondering. And now that I am reading this over a second time… these concepts would be called living in the Spirit rather than the flesh, wouldn’t they?  Ouch!

Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 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. (source)

2 Timothy 2:14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. (source)

Guess I am not wondering any more.  Daddy God has spoken!

P.S.  And ladies and gents, I lie not!  I went from putting the finishing touches on this before beginning the closing prayer, to read an email that just came in and it is a devotional entitled Renewed Day by Day!  I’m not kidding!!  Indeed DADDY is speaking and I am listening!

Thank You, DADDY GOD, for the progress today and thank You that even the failures when given to You become stepping stones to victory. Thank You that I have some stepping stones today and I have some victories too and I couldn’t have done it without You.  Thank You.  Thank You for the good reports I have received today and thank You that You are LORD over the bad ones too.  Thank You that You are tending all that have come to us for prayer today.  You are teaching us the power of prayer and we are grateful.  Doing what I know to do for spirit, soul and body says I should now ask You to bless our IDOK Troops, protect them and guard them and bring them home safe and sound; bless our IDOKs and Readers with peace and rest and wisdom and desire to love You and serve You more; forgive and grant space and grace for the lost to repent and for the saints to grow into consistent obedience and trust You for a good night sleep for us all in Jesus Name.  Amen and amen.

Kathie