Do you struggle with truly giving your heart, your life, everything over to God? I was this way for years, but God gives us the help we need. I was reading Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
As I was reading this Scripture, I was thinking about how hard it is for some people to truly give their hearts to God, people like me, or how I used to be. I would say that I wanted to live for God, but the truth was that I spent more time making excuses then truly seeking God. I used the wounds I carried around as a shield, keeping my heart locked up tight even to God.
I was asking God why it has seemed to be so hard for me to just say yes to Him and truly mean it. One thing I can say about God, is if we ask, He is faithful to answer. But we have to be willing to listen for the answers. We can find our answers in Scripture many times, and this is the answer that God gave me.
He brought to mind Romans 8:7 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” The Complete Jewish Bible reads this way: Romans 8:7 “For the mind controlled by the old nature is hostile to God, because it does not submit itself to God’s Torah — indeed, it cannot.” The Amplified says this: Romans 8:7 “the mind of the flesh [with its sinful pursuits] is actively hostile to God. It does not submit itself to God’s law, since it cannot,”
God then brought to mind Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
My flesh preferred self-pity, feeling sorry for myself and blaming others for everything. This kept me from crucifying the flesh, submitting to God and letting Him heal the wounds. And to be honest, it isn’t always wounds that keep us from wanting to submit to God and becoming a living sacrifice. Many times, it is just our flesh wanting what it wants.
When we are struggling to overcome, Romans 12:1 (AMP) Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.
God’s mercy will help us to fight our flesh, see the truth and be able to submit to His will, pleasing Him. If you really, truly, with all your heart want understanding, ask God, be willing to listen and He will help you overcome. We just have to have the “want to” part.
Flesh vs. Spirit
