Flesh vs. Spirit

        
     My heart breaks for people who have been broken. Watching others be hit with tragedy and tribulation always without fail sends me back to remembering my own battles with brokenness. Life's most ugliest circumstances can turn you into either a spiritual warrior or bitter poison. I struggled so long with fighting off resentment towards people in my life who have wronged me. I would bring my concerns to the Lord confessing to Him that I know I should no longer wish unhappiness on those who harmed me, but confessing isn't a cure. It's only a step in the right direction. To push the envelop further I needed to constantly remind myself that I CANNOT and DO NOT have what it takes within me to love my enemies apart from God. Who does?! It's a working of the spirit within you and me that acting in love towards an enemy can ever occur. I so greatly detest the part of my flesh that desires revenge and the cultivation of hatred yet in my weakest moments a tend to give into it. The flesh is at war with the spirit. What side will we choose to serve? More importantly, who will we choose to serve? The greatest example ever in the history of mankind regarding these life altering questions is Jesus. Our Lord was talked about heinously by the Pharisees, accused of being a liar and a trickster, spat in the face, torn and mutilated beyond recognition,  
mocked, betrayed by one of his own disciples, and murdered.... He died to take the sins of the betrayer, the mocker, the abuser, and the murderer. The God that came to save the sin infested human race with love in His heart has a place in my heart and GREATER is HE that is in ME and in YOU that is in the world! Do not be overcome with bitterness, resentment, hatred, pity, and remorse. You are called to a higher standard and with Christ warring against your flesh IT IS POSSIBLE to find victory in this fleshly battlefield! You might never receive an apology, you might continue to be talked about, looked down on, or even hated but as Christians ( little Christs) we are overcomers! Let God deal with those who have hurt you and continue to live in the example he set for us on Calvary. This subject was so heavy on my heart this week and I hope that in some way that it will encourage those of you who are at war with your flesh. Stay strong in faith and STAY IN THE WORD.

With My Deepest Affection To The Broken,

Kelly Thomas (Set Sail Author)