Dying to the Flesh

BIBLE VERSE: ROMANS 8:13 
For if you live according to the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever.

What does it mean to die to the flesh? It means surrendering our sinful nature and desires to God, and living a life controlled by the Holy Spirit. It means putting to death our old self and being transformed into a new creation in Christ.

In Galatians 2:20, Paul writes, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." This is the heart of dying to the flesh. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our old self is crucified with Him, and we are made new.

But this is not a one-time event. Dying to the flesh is a daily process. In Romans 8:13, we're told, "For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the flesh, you will live." We must continually choose to put to death our sinful desires and live according to the Spirit.

This is not easy. The flesh and the Spirit are at war within us, as Galatians 5:17 tells us. But when we die to the flesh, the Spirit triumphs, and we experience true victory.

So how do we die to the flesh? First, we must recognize our sinful nature and desires. We must acknowledge the ways in which we are tempted to live according to the flesh. Then, we must repent and surrender those desires to God. We must put to death our old self and put on the new self, created in Christ Jesus.

NOTE that this is a daily process. It requires discipline, self-control, and surrender. But the result is worth it: a life of freedom, joy, and victory in Christ.

PRAY THIS: Dear Lord, help me to die to the flesh and live according to the Spirit. Transform me into a new creation in Christ, and may I experience the victory and freedom that comes from surrendering to You. Amen.