My Flesh is Negative, Is Yours?

This is my first post here since Christmas. At that time I felt prompted to take a break from writing. Perhaps it was becoming too much like work! I don't know if I'm back or not but I know I felt a stirring in me to write this for myself if for no one else, after a statement on Jenily's blog on MyChurch grabbed my attention. (I'd put a link to the article but her site is closed to non-friends). She said something like this:

When I choose to rule over my flesh, I immediately exalt my spirit.

She then referenced Philemon 6. In the King James Version of the Bible, it reads like this:

That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

If you are wondering what "communicating" my faith has to do with overcoming my flesh, Jenily's main point was that many Christians think there is nothing good inside them and that Philemon 6 disproves that way of thinking because it clearly states that our faith becomes effectual (starts working) by knowing the good things present in our spirit. If we turn the verse around, it says that if we don't know what is in our spirit man, our faith won't work.

ABIDE IN CHRIST

Graham Cooke just taught at my home church on overcoming negativity through resting in Christ. A main point was that any kind of negative action or thought, even toward myself attracts negative things to me. What Jenily wrote was a continuation of the larger theme the Holy Spirit has been speaking to me about guarding against negativity of any kind. If your flesh is like mine, it is very negative! For my immediate need, I am going to think of it this way:

When I choose to rule over negativity, I exalt my spirit.

or

I strengthen my spirit by ruling over negativity.

PHILEMON 6

As I normally do, I looked at several versions and paid special attention to the Amplified Version as I crafted this prayer for myself:

I pray that the practice of participating in and sharing my faith will produce and promote full recognition, appreciation, understanding and precise knowledge of every good thing that is mine because of my identification with Christ, for his glory.

Graham Cooke's Interactive Journal Crafted Prayer is available here.

Teach me to see
what I still don't see.

Job 34:32
The Message Remix

Since we all have blind spots, this scripture is a good one to pray often. At my church we are often told not to ask ourselves if we are deceived but to ask, "Where am I deceived?" If only Adam and Eve had asked that question!

GOD'S DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN

For God's kids, the door is always open. So it should be simple for us to walk right in and fellowship with him, right? I want it to be that way and sometimes it is. But not always. Recently I have been struggling over a situation involving one of my children. I know God wants to take the burden off me and I know his door is open, so what's the problem?

I Kept Wrestling With It

I had gone before God and prayed and come to a kind of semi-peace. Semi in that I wasn't carrying the entire problem but little thoughts kept nagging me and I would have to keep wrestling with them, reminding myself that I had left that with God.

Little Foxes Spoil the Vine

Proverbs says it's the little foxes that spoil the vine and these "little thoughts" were robbing me of peace. When I got good and tired of it I threw myself on the floor - for me that is a reminder of the need to humble myself and admit I am desperate - and I cried out to God for wisdom in the matter. Shortly thereafter I prayed again and this time I broke through. I realized I had been trying to deal with the thoughts but had pushed down my feelings about the situation and not brought them to the Lord.

Tell Him All Your Troubles

Ps. 142 says to pour out our complaints to the Lord, to tell him our troubles. I thought I had done that, but until I really got gut-level honest with myself and God about my feelings in this situation, I didn't get peace. I knew that once (click here) but I forgot it!

I share this as a reminder to myself and possibly a hint to someone else who might have prayed but not broken through. God is available to help us. His door is open. If we aren't walking in his peace, the problem is with us.

Photo by Darryl Wattenberg

ACKNOWLEDGE THE LORD

In all your ways know, recognize and acknowledge him,
and he will direct and make straight and plain your paths.
PROVERBS 3:6 TAB

In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths.
PROVERBS 3:6 NKJ

When I acknowledge God, I respond first to who he has shown himself to be to me. I give thanks to him for revealing himself to me as my savior, my helper, my healer, my keeper, my constant companion and friend. I recognize his authority as Creator of the universe and as Head of his church, of which I am a member. I declare that his promises and claims in his Word are good and true. I tell him that I believe what he says and I trust who he is.

Sometimes I come to him in the midst of stife and uncertainty but acknowledging him in this way builds my faith so that I can confidently release myself into his care and experience his peace, knowing he will take charge of my situation and direct me in straight and plain paths.