We are spiritual beings living in fleshly bodies in this world. Like oil and water, spirit and flesh generally resist integration and it takes a lifetime journey to grow into a maturity of soul. Our spirit desires to do God’s will and love Him with all our hearts, but so many times our flesh seems to arrest our spiritual growth. It will take a lifetime journey attending “life is a school”, but because of our relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit we have the power and ability to overcome. During our life’s spiritual growth process; we will gradually be freed from judgment and wrath, and the Holy Spirit will fill us with love and compassion; He will free us from ignorance and intolerance, giving us His wisdom and understanding; He will change our double mindedness and arrogance into His honor and humility; we will overcome our weakness of flesh and our fears, with His strength and courage. God longs for us to be able to walk in Truth and know ourselves with His clarity and love. In Gethsemane, as Jesus Christ struggled in His flesh, He asked the Father to take the “cup of suffering” from Him. Nevertheless, He overcame the flesh by praying to the Father, His thoughts and feelings. Because of Jesus’ relationship with the heavenly Father, the cries that came out of Jesus’ heart brought the overcoming victory of “not what I will but Thy will be done.” In contrast, the disciples’ experience in the garden was quite different. They too were struggling with the flesh manifesting itself through doubt, confusion, anger, fear, frustration, sadness, and their desire to run, fight and sleep. Jesus told them several times to watch and pray so they would be able to overcome, but they did not hear or listen. Instead they slept, fought in the flesh, and ran away. When we struggle with the works of the flesh in our lives, let us take into account what Christ taught us by word and example. Watch and pray, as we run to Jesus, and allow the Holy Spirit to be our helper to overcome our weak flesh.

“Keep awake and watch and pray [constantly], that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak”(Mark 14:38).