Beloved, I will always challenge My children to go against their natural inclinations; to battle against their flesh and its pull to live a comfortable life.
For this is the way of man: to live out his days in pursuit of what makes him happy at the moment. Because the heart of mankind is fickle, he is prone to change his mind on a whim, as his flesh is always crying out to be satisfied. Yet what it takes to subdue this voice is always shifting, leading many to embark on a “chase” to find the one thing that will silence its urgings.
Simply put, boredom is the real culprit. For when a man’s flesh grows tired of the same old life, it pushes him onward, to search for anything fresh and exciting. Though at first, these new experiences keep his flesh quiet, yet, after a while they become less interesting (like a hat that has been worn for too long; one that has gone out of style and has lost all its flash and pizzazz). For when what was considered thrilling no longer carries the same appeal, his flesh will rise up again.
Therefore, My children need to understand, that battling against their flesh is part of our journey in which I included this struggle to aid them in growth and maturity. Since it is the development of their inner man that is My sole focus, I allowed the voice of their flesh to remain intact even though they have experienced salvation. Because this act of restraining their will and yielding to the place of surrender will cause some friction inside (as their flesh puts up some resistance to My authority), this internal struggle, though uncomfortable, is a necessary part of their training. For, how can they hope to stand in their full calling unless they have learned this crucial step? So then, it is obedience to Me that must be the first priority, no matter what their flesh might be saying.
However, it is this ongoing discomfort that produces a strong inward stance, one which after time cannot be shaken. This is why I challenge My children so that the rut of complacency can be avoided.
Yet, because they desire above all else to feel at ease, to live out life by spending their time in a relaxed state, too often the words of their flesh are heeded instead of My own. For these, when a choice has to be made to either take the easy road or push back on their flesh, they will usually take the path of least resistance. What they don’t see, is that by going down this road, the growth I desire within them is inhibited. For if time is squandered on the useless trifling of man, little internal development happens. So then, when the pressure of each challenge has been lifted, will these still desire to pursue Me? Will they still run the race with the same fervor? Or, will their response be more in line with those who are good with just getting by?
I say, “Press in and push back!”, even though at times it is rather difficult, especially on those days when your flesh is extremely vocal. For, in those moments, it is the deeper work I am after. Know that as you push back upon the pull of your flesh, the expansion of your inner man will continue to broaden and dispossess every barrier within you.
So then, push onward, Beloved. Battle through the weariness. For on the other side of this struggle lies the greater anointing I have promised.
“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” Romans 13:14