Monday, October 1, 2018

Taming the flesh





I have a phrase that I find often coming out of my mouth in reference to the physical effect Ehlers-Danlos has had on my body. "I hate my body! I hate every fiber of it." It is said mostly out of frustration and pain. It occurred to me what I really was angry at was my symptoms and my pain rather than the source itself. A better word for my body is my flesh and bone. I should be saying I hate my flash every bone every joint every fiber every muscle, every cell of mutated collagen. It occurred to me that in spiritual sense that's how we should be! We should hate our flesh! Live by the Spirit walk in the light. I take medication, use essential oils, heat, ice, movement, stillness and rest. The cast or ace bandages, braces that support my joints, Have a great medical team that gives me great care.  I have wonderful family and friends, who support my heart and body. I am contently in a juggle to try and do just about anything to keep my flesh from not raging in distress!  What I should be doing is spending more time taming my eternal flesh rather than this temporary one.  After all Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)  says 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Romans 8: 5:11 says this
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus[d] from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you

My flesh often speaks louder than my spirit. It has taken me years to learn that one of the best pain relievers I have is setting my mind not on my flesh but on the Spirit of the living God. When I find myself screaming, I hate my body! I hate every fiber of it; I retreat into my room alone. I turn off the lights; lay on my face on the bed and put worship music on.  I just ask the Holy Spirit to come and sit with me. I have had to learn how to tame my flesh and bones. Yes my medical tools help but the best soothing I have is from the warmth of the Holy Spirit in the middle of my rage and pain.  I daily struggle to keep my bones and flesh from falling apart, but I struggle more with keeping my inner flesh from ripping my spirit man apart. The two go hand in hand. When I stray from walking in the Spirit my physical body struggles to coupe with my chronic illness.  If you are struggling today take time to tame the flesh. The flesh is death but the Spirit is life and peace! Remember these words today as you try and tame your flesh both inner and outward. 

Psalms 73 :26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

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