STAY THE COURSE

As a Christ-follower you discover early on in your journey that your heart wages war with what you use to be and what you are. It is a relentless fight betwixt to natures—the old and the new. Your old nature is seasoned and wily. It will use its veteran assault weapons of sex, lust, envy, wild parties, anger, selfishness, and jealousy at every opportunity to lay siege to your newfound grace. Your new nature however, is vigilant and ever ready to be the resistance force to take down and defeat this anti-grace coalition. This sworn enemy against grace will be met with tactile sorties of faith, hope, love, and prayer to bring this evil in your life to its knees in surrender. But be warned these two opposing natures will always clash as long as you live in this world.

The apostle Paul earnestly lays it out for us concerning this two nature wrestling match. “The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.” (Galatians 5:17-18 NLT)
So are you feeling defeated? Has your flesh, Satan, and this world become too much for you? Remember your Lord, the Commander of your salvation. Even when the old nature takes advantage of the rookie moves of your new nature God’s Spirit is at your side assuring you that you will overcome and be more than a conqueror through Him. The Spirit’s assistance is more than enough to defeat your old nature foes.
Stay the course even if discouragement has broken through. You can overcome this onslaught. Who can overcome the power and authority of your God? Stay the course! Let your soul catch fire by looking to Jesus. He will bring the victory because He has overcome the world and because He has overcome you are assured (despite your present conflict) sweet and glorious victory.
Stay the course! Live for Jesus!




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