OVERCOMING WEAKNESSES

Hi there,

How are you?

I have been well, I really hope you have been as well?

Today, I just want to come on here to encourage you on this journey called life. I am not here to question nor scold you, I am here to share in your pain and struggle because I may just be walking similar journey as you.

There is this part of me that I struggle with; I know it isn’t part of the fruit of the spirit but yet I still struggle. The world made me believe there was nothing wrong, rather it was just me expressing myself differently. Then I go back to my Bible and see otherwise. Do I try to manage it so that I take a little of the world and a little Word? Afterall, the trait is needed in this fallen world.

Then I will reckon to myself, Paul did understand how these things could be, so I am not alone. Take a look at this – “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice” – Romans 7:19. The only problem is, Paul didn’t end his lamentation there, let’s see what he says in verse 24 of same chapter; ” O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I wish he ended it there, but of course not. He sure provided an answer by himself for himself. Romans 8:1-2 says “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the spirit and life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”

The answer to overcoming any weakness or addiction is right here. Paul knew it and he shared it. Firstly, if you are in Christ Jesus, you are not under condemnation. Secondly, to break free from the weakness/addiction, you need to walk according to the spirit and not according to the flesh. God does not see you after the flesh, if He does, then His anger would still have been valid towards men. Thank God, Jesus has come to bridge that gap and now, we are forever perfect in our spirit before God (well, if you are born again that is).

Now, I have these information, but how do I apply them to my life in order to stop reacting according to my flesh? This was my challenge. I struggled alot with self condemnation and self guilt whenever I fell short, still do by the way. Then I read in 2Corinthians 12:9-10 recently and it helped to put everything in proper perspective for me. Let’s see what it says; “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

I used to read these verses alot but never really grasped anything from it for myself until it answered my heart question. I realised that all the while I had been leaning on my strength to change me while living in the deception that self could help. But NO! I needed to accept that I was a flawed human that needed saving and not just that, but also in my weakness, Christ is strong. Therefore all I had to do was lean on Him and not do it on my own. Also, that in my flesh is weakness but in my spirit where the Holy Spirit resides, there lies the strength I need to carry me through anything in life.

In summary, in overcoming any form of weakness, you firstly have to accept that the weakness really does exist; but the good thing is that it only resides in your flesh. But we have been called to live life from our spirit where all the strength needed to overcome that weakness lies. Now, instead of beating myself up when I fall short, what do I do? I acknowledge I acted according to my flesh but that isn’t all there is to me, So I ask for forgiveness from God and whoever it is involved, then I reposition myself (to live by the spirit).

This isn’t a one day affair, it is a lifelong process. But you keep getting better and stronger and soon, you will see how all those weaknesses dropping off like used rags. They will no longer have any power over you anymore.

I hope this helps.

Signing out….

XXXX.

Ps:

I was about posting this when I saw this Instagram post from Nosa (@nosaalways) and it just confirmed what I wrote. And I went yaaass! The Holy Spirit has confirmed it’s a word in season. It goes “The greatest battles we fight are the ones we fight against our own selves! We draw from the victory that Christ got on our behalf and way ahead of us!”