Ruling Over Your Flesh: Fighting Lust

Ruling Over Your Flesh: Fighting Lust

                It’s funny how tricky the devil can be especially when you are able to decipher his evil plans, that moment when you spot him and be like *okay nice try but boy bye*.  However, it can be extremely damaging when you can’t.  Lust and every other type of sin starts with a simple thought. Temptations are attempts by the devil to put a halt to our communication with God. The devil knows that if he leaves you alone, you’ll not only get closer to the truth but start becoming more successful at LIVING IT OUT. So he tries to catch you unaware. Many times we underestimate lust. That scenario where you find yourself laying right next to someone you know you should NOT be lying next to didn’t start from that moment. It started days ago, maybe weeks or even months.

                You see as Christians we need to be very alert. The Bible talks about guarding your heart.

                        Keep vigilant watch over your heart; 

                        That's where life starts. 

                                                   Proverbs 4:23 MSG

 The moment you have an evil thought or imagination you need to CAPTURE IT. Capture it before you get too comfortable thinking about it.  Once you recognize the devils “not so slick” move then bring it to the notice of the Holy Spirit. That is why He lives in us, so he can help us ward off all forms of fleshy desires. Talk to God about that thought, He knows you don’t want it and once you pray, asking Him to redirect and help you align your focus with His again, He is more than ready to help. I talk about the Holy Spirit so much because Jesus knew about all these problems we will be faced with in this time and age. Therefore, He knew it was better if He DWELT INSIDE of us. That’s why He gave us the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, to teach us all things and instruct us in the way we should go. See John 14:26

                Bear this in mind that sin becomes more difficult to fight when we separate ourselves from God. God is the only one that can SAVE US from these sins. My dad used to say all the time that sin is a sinker. I have probably heard him say it at least a hundred times and that is exactly what it is. It takes us deeper and farther away from God. I know you are probably thinking “but I have tried! I get on my knees and pray every time, BEGGING God to deliver me from this sin but I keep going back!” Permit me to LOL at this point because, I’ve been there, done that, OVER DONE THAT, and by God’s grace I have and will continue to win the battle. You see battling strongholds such as lust and other forms of sin cannot be done by the mere feeling of regret. Nah fam, it’s way more intense than that. It is going back to His feet every single time you fall. I know that is very difficult because you wonder “how can I pray after all I’ve done?” NO NO NO NO *inserts big stop sign* That is when you are supposed to pray more than ever before. Seek His face, dwell in His presence. I used wonder how to “dwell in God’s presence” cause I heard it all the time and couldn’t get it (probably because I assumed that the moment my knees hit the floor I was going to feel a “cloud” of God’s “presence”). Here, it’s pretty simple, turn off your phone because we both know you will want to pick it up, get your laptop and play some worship music! You don’t have to start screaming and shouting words out. Start simple, talk to Him, confess it all. We forget sometimes that God sees our inside out meaning that He cares much more about what our heart is saying than what our mouths are not.

                Let me be very clear you have to be very INTENTIONAL. I know you’ve probably gotten tired of hearing that word, but you should ask yourself why though, because I bet you are not tired of hearing and saying “LIT” or “SLAY”. So being INTENTIONAL is very important. After pouring your heart out to God HONESTLY, whether you felt the cloud of His presence or not BELIEVE that He heard you (HE LIVES IN YOU, so please CALM). Now you need to begin to work out being intentional, this is where getting off your Instagram explore page comes in, refusing to talk about that very “annoying” girl, refusing to engage in conversations that will only lead you back to that sin. If we filtered our lives the same way, we filtered our pictures then things would be a little easier. Cutting all these things that weigh you down will help. You might feel, lonely or just quiet and your friends may call you boring. Once they start calling you boring it is evident that you have started doing something right. When trying to get right with God ruling your flesh is very important. Not being subject to that Instagram post, not being subject to Netflix, to Snapchat, and to every other unnecessary weight. The Bible tells us about laying down every weight. Hebrew 12:1.

                Also, mixing discipline and being intentional is key. As Christians we need to know that we have a very crucial purpose and this is to serve and please God. Always carry that thought in mind. We also need to understand that the devil will never stop trying, he will keep testing and trying your faith but remember that you are more than conquerors and that you will overcome by the blood of the Lamb! In this “meme generation” abiding and continuous seeking to get closer to God cannot be over emphasized. Don’t give up! Watch sermons on YouTube, follow Christians on Instagram, go over the songs on your playlist, dear friends God sees your heart and He wants you to win. I’ll say this again, remember to abide, stay under His ever loving covering, He wants you more than you want Him. Even when it feels like He’s not there, He is! Have faith, it’s not going to be all roses and Holy Ghost ice-cream (thanks Carlis Howze for that one). We have to work this thing out, every single day, choosing to die to your flesh, choosing to rule your life in complete submission to the one who owns the Heaven and the earth. Trust me, choosing to please God, is the best decision you’ll ever make!

Side Note: Apply these things to every form of sin, gossiping, lying, et cetra. It doesn’t have to be the exact way I said it but it has to be God’s way. Using the Bible as your GPS to navigate, all the way until you get to the gates of Heaven.