You
know the old adage, “The squeaky wheel gets the oil?” In
the warfare between our spirit and flesh we can safely deduce that
our flesh is often that “squeaky wheel.” The flesh is
privy to instant gratification while the spirit is often made to bear
greater hardships, turmoil, and delayed access to heart desires. The
flesh screams for attention while the spirit gently nudges with quiet
whispers to our heart. Sometimes the intensity of that
“squeaky wheel” distracts us from the guidance God’s spirit
affords us. Overcome by the incessant squeak of our flesh
we surrender to the whims of our fleshly desires.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
There
are forces that are working against us. Their mode of
attack usually involves those things that the enemy knows will get
our attention. The enemy doesn’t have to implement
grandiose calamities to knock us off balance. Whether it’s
our desire to be in a relationship or our aspirations for success—he
knows how to hit us where we’re most vulnerable. This
spiritual realm that’s in constant battle for our souls is why we
can’t afford to adopt an attitude of self-reliance. Our
self-discipline alone is not enough to combat the forces that are
working to keep us toeing the line between being a true follower of
Jesus and an interested spectator.
We
see spiritual entities in the big changes and distractions, but we
don’t always recognize that the schemes of the enemy are disguised
in those little worldly nuisances found in our daily life. If
the enemy can use traffic as means to put us in a foul mood then he’s
found a way into our life. Our funky mood then translates
into impatience. This impatience serves to fuel the rest
of our interactions for the day. The opportunities that we
had to dispel light are missed because of one petty worldly nuisance
like traffic. But, if we learn to recognize that just as
God uses everything to our benefit—the enemy will strive to
use everything to our detriment.
Each
decision we make bears some consequence. We may not see
the effects of alcohol or smoking or lack of exercise today, but at
some point we pay for the things we do or fail to do. The
challenges that I’m facing right now are a direct result of the
actions I implemented when I chose to nurture my flesh versus my
spirit. When I chose to have sex before marriage, when I chose
to bear children out of wedlock, when I chose to party versus invest
in my studies, and on and on.
So,
today recognize that it is going to take more than your greatest
effort to win the war of spirit vs. flesh. The wear and tear to
your spirit is a direct result of striving to carry “it” all on
our own and fight a battle that has already been won. We are
operating from a place of victory. Stand firm in that victory
and press into God’s strength. There is nothing too petty,
trivial, or small for God to be involved in. Bring God into
everything. Keep Him close. He will grace you with the
strength to continually forgo the incessant squeak of your flesh and
surrender to the promptings of His Spirit. Be encouraged.
Ashley Ivery is a single mother of two
brilliant children, Aiden and Devyn, with an overwhelming desire to
empower women and help them to realize the importance of a
relationship with God. Through her writing she hopes to
encourage women to claim their strength and value in
Christ. Ashley serves as the Residential Listing Partner
for Team Harris Real Estate. She graduated
from Fayetteville State University in 2012 with a
BS in Psychology. Her motto is: "Be Authentic. Live
Honestly. Dispel Light."
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