Please Don't Feed The Flesh by Joan Cook
"For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God." 1 Corinthians 2:11-16
To grow and develop physically, we must be well nourished. The same is true for our spiritual man. When we're hungry, we eat, there will never be a time when you'll fill your body up so much that you won't ever be hungry again. You must eat daily. Yesterday's meal doesn't fill you up today. On the other hand, what you ate yesterday does affect your body today!
Our spiritual man is hungry! Daily we must eat! Yesterday's spiritual food doesn't fill you up for today. It certainly makes your spirit man stronger or weaker depending on what you've ingested.
When you became a Christian, you received the Holy Spirit of God living in you!
Now, you have a choice: Feed the Flesh or Feed the Spirit! There is a battle in each of us - between flesh and spirit - who are we going to feed?
When we feed the flesh, we fill up on things of the world that make us feel good. Things we want! Filling our appetites on worldly desires without checking with our God to see if what we desire is in line with His desire for us.
When we feed the spirit, we nourish that relationship with the Lord so that we are able to have the "mind of Christ" in every situation
Materialism takes a very strong hold when we feed the flesh. It brings about discontentment, causing things to look better "over there" and cloud our thinking and vision. It taints what we have so that it looks less desirable. It is magnetizing. When the spirit of materialism takes hold it draws you away from God and closer to the specific desire.
Consider the following parallels:
Fleshly Desire - Discontentment - Discouragement - Depression - Death
Spiritual Desire - Contentment - Encouragement - Joy - Life
"Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Daily Prayer Focus: Pray today that you will choose spiritual desires over the flesh, contentment over discontentment, encouragement over discouragement, joy over depression, and life over death.
On The Go Prayer Focus: Keith Cook Crusades, Celebrations, and Festivals. God has given Keith the opportunity and privilege of sharing the message of Christ both stateside and internationally. During each opportunity, Keith presents a joyful and enthusiastic, yet powerful and clear presentation of the Gospel and a call to commitment to Christ.
On The Go Daily Devotion for May 1, 2021
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