We will Fight to Live, but will We Fight to Crucify Our Flesh?
We are wired to tell people to fight when their bodies are being attacked. I remember having a 30 Day straight Prayer Call when my 29 year old, Sister-in-Law was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma and was at Stage 4, shortly after my niece was born. I was so militant in my approach. I placed scriptures all over her room; removed books that people brought that were not edifying; and even at one point commented not to enter her room if you did not have faith.
Honestly, I wish I had done a better job in crucifying my flesh. I could not imagine a 29 year old leaving a husband, 5 year old son, and 5 month old daughter! I never really took the time to ultimately pray the Will of the Father. My flesh shut off any possibility outside of the miracle of her being healed on this side.
After all, this was a young lady who served two terms in the Air Force, protecting our country. She became a Military Sergeant all while starting a family with my brother, her high school sweetheart.
My refusal to crucify my flesh had me to miss out on crucial conversations and video footage that I could have made for my niece and nephew. That moment could have been spent having her share how she wanted her fingerprint of love woven through their lives, but my unwillingness to believe that God would not heal her on this side, prevented the needed preparation to take place.
The greatest fight that we will step in the ring of life is against ourselves. Our Will can be like a Heavyweight Fighter, and our acceptance of the Will of God, if not careful, can be what’s called in the Boxing World, “A Minimumweight” even less than a Light Flyweight! Just barely making it in!
We cannot leave room for a margin. For the crucifying of our flesh to be decided by a decision. We need to be fully persuaded on being built solid in God to die to ourselves and our own selfish ambitions that do not factor in God’s Plan. As those Spiritual Muscles are developing, there will be a great tearing away!
John 12:24-26 says,
New King James Version
24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
Our death process will never be a solo venture. It has lives in mind that we will never see! Envision the amount of fruit that an apple tree produces. According to planyourpatch.com, a mature standard apple tree will yield 500 lbs of apples. Our getting the dying process correct yields much fruit!
Imagine being on both sides of Christ on a cross and choosing life over death; which brings about eternal life. Now, imagine having not only this account, but several stories that should help us choose the latter! The Love, Grace, and Empowerment in the Bible is truly beyond what we deserve! Choose this day…
By all means, Live a fulfilling Life, but more importantly, may we Crucify our Flesh daily that we may truly live again and give Him Glory! The Living is in the Dying! A great place to insert the song verse: “For your glory, I’ll do anything!”
DIVINE WORK & PRAY:
WORK: Jot down in your journal the areas that you struggle to crucify and why. What does dying to your flesh look like in each area that you have mentioned?
PRAY: Father God, when I look over my life, I see the detriment of removing myself off of the cross. I see what my strong will prevented in my development. It prevented me from seeing a new facet of who You are in Your sustaining and keeping power! You are all wise and all knowing. Forgive my finite actions towards an infinite God. Thank you for the do overs that have led to a posture to remain on the cross through the most challenging and perfecting moments in my life! There shall be glory after this! In your Matchless Name, in Jesus Christ, I pray this prayer. Amen.
