The Struggle Within.
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing, for the will to do what is right is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.” - Romans 7:18 (MEV)
There is a great struggle that lies within the soul of a believer. This is in fighting the old nature of sin and holding onto the new nature that Christ gracefully bestows upon us. Or more accurately within us. The powers of darkness calling us back to a life full of sin and death. A tempting call this is. Though it is full of death we still give way to the thoughts of temptation. As far as I know, this tempting call rings loudest when our daily devotion to christ is weakest. It is in the life of the prayerless soul that sin and darkness is the strongest. This truth holds itself to be self evident in this, the less we engage our souls in prayer and meditation of God’s word, the more we lend ear to temptation and darkness.
For the absence of prayer is where our spirit grows weak and darkness gains strength. For once in Christ, our souls need daily communion with Christ and the Father. Our souls grow lean when the things of God are absent from our lives. It is a beautiful gift of grace when we delight ourselves in the Word of God and remain active in prayer. God, knowing this struggle and battle within our souls gives us the gift of his written word. He instructs us in His way; yet sin still tempts us. Until we stand glorified before the Father in Heaven, this war is waged within our souls.
The Apostle Paul uses explicit and violent language when discussing this battle. “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if through the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” - Romans 8:13 (MEV) We must put to death the sin nature. This is only done with the help of the Spirit of God. We can not do it ourselves. No amount of willpower can overcome this fallen nature; only Christ within can overcome.
“Father, strengthen me in your ways. Inspire my heart that with your help I may wage war on this fallen nature. Grant me the grace to delight in you, to delight myself in your truth. Amen.”
