Do Not Resuscitate

It’s become overly apparent to me that my flesh has been running rampant and just “playing dead” for the past few weeks. I’m actually considering nominating it for an Oscar – best theatrical death scene ever. (I can only imagine the self-serving speech it will give!) In all seriousness though, my flesh has put on quite the show lately; lots of pain and suffering through the pretend dying process. It had me convinced – in the moment – that the job (crucified flesh) was done and I could be off on my merry way walking carelessly in the Spirit. Lo and behold, my flesh lied. I can’t tell you how many times I stumbled over the same rock this past week. If my flesh were truly dead, I would be spiritually awake and that stumbling block wouldn’t stand a chance.

For the past few weeks, I’ve been in this unfamiliar cycle – I wake up, “sacrifice” my flesh, and five minutes later (give or take a few) my flesh somehow comes back to life and with a vengeance. It would be unrealistic for me to think my flesh wouldn’t rise up every once in a while, but if I am being honest, it has risen up so much lately that I was beginning to think I was back-sliden. It wasn’t until the Lord spoke to me and said, “Do not resuscitate” that I began to understand what was really taking place. Scripture tells us “…the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Make no mistake, our flesh is not weak in the sense of reviving itself; it is weak in that it does not have the discipline or desire to submit to the Lord. Our flesh can be powerful and will do anything to take the reins back in our life, especially if it hasn’t truly been put to death for the day.

As I mediated on this thought, I realized that all the little things I carelessly let in were resuscitating my flesh; they were giving it power over my spirit. Don’t shoot the messenger here, but some of the little things were holiday-related. I’m not saying that to be Grinch-like, only to caution us from allowing our flesh to rule during the season. Matthew 26:41 also tells us to “Watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation…” We must watch (or exercise care, caution or restraint about) for the ungodly things that steal our time away from Kingdom preparation.

We often think of laboring in the Kingdom as outreach and reaping the harvest, but really the more important labor comes in our preparation – prayer, fasting, and studying the Word. The best part about preparation – you guessed it – it puts our flesh truly to death. If you flood yourself with Light, you suffocate the garbage that sneaks in from the world. It is time we stop resuscitating the old man within us; Let him die and “watch” for those things that bring him back to life.

Lord, help me to walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh. Instill within me the discipline I need to take up my cross daily; let there be nothing left of me so you can increase in my life. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray.