For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. (Galatians 5:17)
I’ve heard that it takes 3 days to break a habit, and 21 days to establish one. I’m not sure those are right, and I think attitude has a lot to do with it if they’re wrong. And what today’s verse suggests is that even if we build a good, spiritual habit, the flesh will continue to fight against it.
This morning, I sense myself falling to a good/bad habit. It’s the end of January. I haven’t done all I’d like to have done in January but it’s really time to set goals for February. At the same time, why set them for February if I haven’t managed January’s? And, while I could easily set a bunch of goals that would require that I accomplish a lot, what goals would make me a better person? And the problems with goals that would make me a better person are ego and definition. What does “better person” mean? What does it look like? How does one measure it? And how do I go about it without arrogance slipping in?
The
answer, at least for February, is prayer. Ultimately, it comes back to wisdom,
direction, and attitude (as usual), but at least partly prayer with this verse
in mind. Prayer about the things the flesh wants, things the Spirit wants, and
once those are identified, prayer that the flesh would be overcome and the
Spirit’s will rule my life. And part of that, I think, involves praying about
the things that irritate me – the things I think “Someone needs to do something
about,” which tends to lead to “I guess I must do something about…”
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