"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do." Galatians 5:16-17
I'm giving up things for the Lord.
Things that are tangible. Things that are not tangible. Things that can be seen by others. Things that are only known to me.
But I'm giving them up. I'm giving them all up to God. To the one who holds these things in the first place. To the one who knows what to do with these things when I don't.
My hands are full of treasures that will waste away.
My heart is full of worry, doubt, fear, confusion, anger, frustration, anxiety.
But this year, one by one, I'm giving them up.
I'm emptying my heart of this world so that it can become full of God. Full of Christ.
Full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
I'm emptying myself of this world and filling myself up with Christ.
Not on my own. Not by my own strength.
My flesh desires this world.
Therefore, I will walk by the Spirit.
Only by the Spirit will I put to death the desires of my flesh.
All glory goes to God.
That is why we are here.
That is the only reason we are here.
To give glory to God in absolutely everything.
"You will sink..in your marriage, parenting, singleness, studies. You will sink if you only listen to the voices of the circumstances that are giving you problems because they speak so loud and they have nothing good to say." -John Piper
Piper goes on to say that God has so many wondrous deeds and so many thoughts towards His children.
Proclaim them. Tell them.
Right now I am proclaiming this world by speaking about the anxieties and worries I have.
But, by walking by the Spirit, I am giving those up to God so that I may speak of all His works.
