By Lisa Wilmore
(Part 2)
Blessings, Dear Hearts!
“What a mighty God we serve! Angels bow before Him; heaven and earth adore Him. What a mighty God we serve!”
I am humbled to share with you what God has impressed upon my heart once again. Please know that I love you with the heart of Jesus Christ, and I pray that God grants you your heart’s desire according to His will.
As we continue our journey in discussing “The Battle Within,” we are reminded that this struggle is familiar to all believers and must be handled in a way that allows God to continue receiving the glory in our lives.
Last week our essential question was, “How do we face and overcome the struggle within our hearts while remaining faithful to God?” The first point we discussed was to “acknowledge the struggle”. We must be honest with ourselves and with God. The Word of God reminds us that when we confess our failures to
Him, He responds with mercy and grace. As it is written in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Acknowledging the struggle is not a sign of weakness, but a step toward spiritual growth and a closer walk with God.
With this in mind, the second point in overcoming the struggle while remaining faithful to God is to “identify the source of the struggle”. As established, “internal conflict” often comes from the tension between the Spirit and the flesh. When we come to Christ, our hearts begin to change, yet our old nature still attempts to influence our choices. Though we have been made new in Christ, the old nature inherited through Adam, which is of the evil one, continues to challenge us. Because of this, believers often experience a spiritual tug-of-war within their hearts. One side pulls toward worldly desires such as love of money, pride, arrogance, lustfulness, addictive behaviors, jealousy, etc., while the other pulls toward the will and purpose of God.
Nevertheless, we are not left powerless in this battle. God has given us His Spirit to guide and strengthen us. Paul, in Galatians 5:16 encourages us to, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” When we focus our minds on the things of God, we begin to experience the life and peace that come from living according to His Spirit (Romans 8:6).
Therefore, let us not become discouraged by the struggle within. Instead, let it remind us of our need for God’s presence and guidance each day. The battle may be invisible to others, but it is real, and God sees it. Reassuringly, God provides the strength we need to overcome it. Through His Holy Spirit, faith, prayer, and obedience to His Word, we can grow stronger in our walk with Him and continue to live lives that bring glory to His name.
Thank You, Jesus, for Your blood! Amen.
Jesus Saves!
