There are two parts of us in conflict "the flesh" which is temporary and which stops having any influence after we die or Christ returns, and the spirit which is eternal, spotless, undefiled and holy. Hence another name for all Christians is "saints" or "holy ones' because our true, essentials selves are holy.
Now this battle between the flesh and the spirit can be very intense and very discouraging. In fact the apostle Paul cries out (Romans 7:21 NKJV) " I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good."
This is the experience of all Christians and often makes us feel very condemned. However there is a solution to this problem!
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.
18) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
1) There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from
the
law of sin and death.
3) For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
4) that the righteous requirement of
the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5) For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the
Spirit.
6) For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
The solution then is to fill your life with the things of the Spirit and to direct your mind into the things of God. Set your mind on the things of the Spirit and you will have life and peace. To do this you should regularly pray, read the Bible, live according to its teachings and meet with other Christians. The more time you make for God - the less time there will be for sin and self-defeat. In particular pray for these things:
Grace- God to be kind toward you and give you the power to resist sin.
Mercy - for God to deliver you from the messes you get yourself into.
Peace - the integration of your life under the blessings of God.
Understanding - of what God has done for you in Christ and the
power in you over sin.
Wisdom & Discernment - so you can apply your understanding to real life situations.
To Be Filled With The Love of God - which takes over our hearts and makes thinking spiritually easy.
To Be Filled With The Spirit - able to see and perceive the things of God so that we are bold and joyful.
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