Remember the last time you did or said something that you as a believer shouldn’t have? Our flesh, our natural self, can catch us off guard and trip us up. We can fall flat on our face. 

Stunned. 

Surprised. 

And embarrassed. 

What happened?

How is it possible? We are Christians, right? We have been connected to Jesus like a water hose to the tap. We are born again, new creations. So, how can we still think such thoughts, say such things, or desire such things? How can we react like that?

We think we are doing alright. Learning to walk in the Spirit. And we, our flesh, can think we are doing ok. But, depending on our abilities is like trying to hold on to sand. Maybe we haven’t learned to turn on the water tap. John 4:1-14

Our natural abilities

I’d like to share with you a possible reason for these shameful, not-so-good incidents. We are looking to our abilities to live the Christian life with God’s help. But, that is using our natural abilities, our flesh. Apostle Paul tells us that the flesh is in conflict with God. It is in conflict with our own spirit which has been renewed by the Holy Spirit.

Every day our flesh is faulty, smelly, and worth nothing spiritually. Flesh is natural and can’t be made spiritual. Flesh is flesh. Flesh is not transformed. It is to be annihilated. It needs to be brought under the dominion of our spirit, if our spirit is under the dominion of the Holy Spirit.

Not just our will, but our emotions, abilities, reactions, feelings must also be surrendered daily to the Holy Spirit. It can be nothing of our abilities. We need the water of His Life. Luke 9:23 

Steps we can take:

• Let’s forget trying hard to live the Christian life. 
• Let’s leave behind who we are in our natural state. 
• Let’s take up the cross as a reminder that we are dead to who we’ve always been.
• Let’s turn from the past.
• Finally, let’s follow Jesus allowing Him to live for us.

Then, knowing our flesh is worth nothing, let’s give the Holy Spirit permission to live for us in all areas of our lives. What if we gave Him complete access to all of our daily life, every aspect, every obligation, every hour? What if we consistently stepped aside and let Him be the pilot and the Life of our being. Let’s open the water faucet of His life and let it flow through us.

Would life look different? Would we have the peace, love, joy, etc. that we need to share with those in our lives? Yes! Yes! Yes!

Words to light your path – Take one per day and marinate in it all day until it flavors your entire being.

Romans 7:15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.NKJV

Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. NKJV

Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. NKJV

Romans 7:24 Who will deliver me from this body of death? NKJV

Romans 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! NKJV

Romans 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. NKJV

Prayer

Father in Heaven, help us to see the worthlessness of our natural abilities. You want to transform us from the inside out by the power of the Holy Spirit. Only the life of Christ can give us the ability to live a life that is pleasing to You.

Exchanged Life