The War Which Rages Within Me

Yesterday morning before leaving for the Early Service at church... I turned on the TV to listen to Dr. David Jeremiah while getting primped and dressed.  He has been doing a series of messages on "Claiming Faith - Finding Freedom," a study of the book of Galatians.  During his sermon he quoted a poem that immediately caught my attention.  I jotted down the first line because I knew that I would later in the day go on a hunt for the complete rhyme.  Amazingly, even in Pastor Rodney's Sunday School Class a verse was used and a reference made to what the contents of the rhyme were concerning - causing again my desire to go on a "google search" ! ! !  Consider the following words:

Two natures beat within my breast.
The one is cursed, the other is blessed.
The one I love, the other I hate.
The one I feed will dominate.
- Author Unknown

I find myself daily aware of "the war which rages within me"... between the flesh "the natural woman - the old nature" and "the spiritual woman - the new nature."  As I mature spiritually it becomes more and more apparent to me that I must daily feed (nourish) the new nature so that it will grow and become the stronger nature in this battle.  At the same time - I must say "NO" to the "old nature" and its desires!

I do not fight alone in this battle... Every Christian encounters these skirmishes in the battleground of our hearts and soul.  The "old nature," energized by its liaison with the world, in numerous ways, molests to disturb the peace and joy of the Believer. 

The spiritual lives of some of the greatest characters in the Bible were marred by "personal weakness" and "major mishaps."  Noah - Abraham - Jacob - Moses - Samson - David - Thomas - Peter - Paul - and the list goes on.  The Lord, with forthright honesty, gives us glimpses of the lowest points in the lives of those He used most.  Even though these men knew and loved the Lord... the same battle raged within each of them.

The "nature" we feed... will dominate!

 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  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.  18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.  19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.   

(Galatians 5:16-25 KJV)

Lord, help me to daily "Walk and Live in YOUR Spirit"!