04/09/2026
Your greatest battle may not always be what is happening around you.
Sometimes it is what is happening within you.
The devil may be outside.
But the flesh can be inside.
Therefore, don't spend all your energy fighting people when God is asking you to deal with your flesh.
Don't spend all your energy rebuking demons while refusing to surrender your desires to God.
Don't blame Satan for every temptation when there are desires you have refused to crucify.
Don't pray only:
“Lord, change my circumstances.”
Sometimes you need to pray:
“Lord, change me.”
Because when God changes you, you can respond differently even when your circumstances don't immediately change.
Galatians 5:24–25
“And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
This is the call:
Crucify the flesh.
Renew your mind.
Feed your spirit.
Walk in the Spirit.
Obey God's Word.
Guard your heart.
Run from temptation.
Practice self-control.
Stay dependent on the Holy Spirit.
And remember:
You don't overcome the flesh by becoming stronger in yourself. You overcome the flesh by becoming more surrendered to the Holy Spirit.
Let us pray.
Father, in the name of Jesus,
I acknowledge that there is a battle within me.
I acknowledge that my flesh desires things that are contrary to Your will.
Lord, I surrender my will to You.
Help me to crucify the flesh.
Help me to deny myself.
Help me to take up my cross daily and follow Jesus.
Holy Spirit, take control of my thoughts, my desires, my emotions, my decisions and my actions.
Give me strength to resist temptation.
Give me wisdom to recognize the works of the flesh.
Give me discipline to avoid what weakens my spiritual life.
Give me grace to walk in obedience.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Let the fruit of the Spirit become evident in my life.
Let love replace hatred.
Let peace replace anxiety.
Let patience replace anger.
Let self-control replace impulsiveness.
Let humility replace pride.
Let holiness replace compromise.
Let Your will become more important to me than my own desires.
I declare that sin will not have dominion over me.
My flesh will not be my master.
I belong to Jesus Christ.
I will walk in the Spirit.
I will live by the Word of God.
And my life will bring glory to God.
In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.
