Friday, February 10, 2012

Inner Conflict


This poem illustrates the inner conflict that takes place between our spirit and flesh. It's actually a re-post from last year, but seemed fitting for this morning. Although the subject matter may not be your particular subject, I think you can relate to the battle. Sometimes the intensity of the battle can get so strong that you just want to give in and let it overtake you, but don't! God is with you, strengthening you, often carrying you. I have learned that its' in my greatest times of weakness that I can see His strength. Feel free to share this with anyone having a battle! 


Inner Conflict by Shun Strickland

I wonder why it’s so hard to understand
The most serious spiritual battles
Take place in the inner man
For the lover of God
There is no greater stress
Than the battles that transpire between Spirit & flesh
Resist the devil and he will flee
How exactly do I resist when he’s part of me?
If loving that man is wrong I don’t wanna be right
But I long to be pleasing in God’s sight
I’m struggling and it seems no one can see
I guess it’s because the conflict takes place inside of me
I go to church, read the Word and I pray
But when he calls me late at night I don’t always say
NO
But I want to oh so bad
Am I really saved or do I need to rededicate again?
Is there any escape from this life of sin?
Like Paul the very thing I hate to do
Is the very thing I do again
Dag! Somebody help me
Can anybody see
How in the world do I crucify
This part of me that’s fighting not to die
 They say “She really doesn’t love God”
But that’s not my reality
The truth is, it’s my love for Him
Keeping me from completely giving in
Hold on before you make a judgment
About my spirituality
I’d prefer you offer up some prayer
And some accountability
It may not be the lure of sex
That pulls you off your path
Could it be guilt from your abortion
That makes you over eat
Maybe you just talk too much
Do you ever lie or cheat
Whatever your secret battle
There’s only one way victory is won
Is life hidden in God’s only Son
Let His love constrain you
Let His Word re-train you
Don’t run from Him
Run to Him
It’s His power that sets you free from sin
Your own striving and struggling leads to failure again
Remember He is greater than any trap of sin
I may not be perfect but I’m better than before
The more I look at Jesus, the more I win the war
I don’t answer the late night calls
Near as often as I use to
I’m learning that if I resist him
He will flee
As long as I remember
That sin isn’t the real Me!

1 comment:

e.johnson said...

I love this!. It captures how I have felt many times. The "sin" I am committing is not coming from a place of just rebelliousness; it's so deeply engrained and twisted into my emotions and my self-identity that to get rid of it is like killing a piece of myself. So I go into self-preservation and in doing so I keep the sin. The Bible says to crucify your flesh, but if you haven't established a separate indentity from your flesh, it feels like suicide to kill the sinful parts. Thankfully, I get it now. I don't "struggle" anymore. I also don't throw-away those people who still get caught up. I know what they are going through.