know me by His scars.

There’s a war waging inside of me. Inside of you too, whether you realize it or not. But if you’re unaware, you’re not fighting it. So by extension, you’ve already lost.

If you are fighting this war, it’s from one of two places: either defeat or victory.

The question is, do you know where you stand?

Let’s start at the beginning, with a simple seed. A seed is just a seed. But if it dies? It grows. It becomes something new. It can produce more seeds.

As a follower of the Way, a disciple of Yeshua, His Word tells me that I have been born again, that I’m a brand new creation, am to be molded to the image of my Maker, reflecting His love and goodness to everyone. This reflection should be a part of me as much as anything else I show myself to be. Perhaps more.

But to be born again, to be something new, something must die first.

This is the war against the law of my mind. Do I follow what my flesh craves, my evil desires? He has shown you, O man, what is good; and you and I both know that neither one of us on our own makes the cut. I don’t need to tell you about the sinful itches lurking in your heart – you know they’re there, always whispering and tugging.

Either I listen to that, give my flesh what it wants. Kill the Spirit telling me it’s not the way. This is the default. Whatever feels good, whatever satisfies my right now.

Living and not really fighting, because I’m already defeated, so what’s the point?

Or. I die to myself. I do fight. By the strength of the Spirit, I don’t do the things that my flesh desires. Instead, I do the good, the right. And as a result, He changes my desires to match His.

I die and am raised to newness of life through Jesus. Living and fighting from the place of victory He has already won.

The reality is that dying to yourself daily? It means dying daily. Death is never the easy road, but it’s the only one that leads to life. Yet, as with anything else, the more you practice it, the more you exercise those muscles, the easier it is to do.

Don’t receive His gift of grace in vain. Use it!

This is the war. Will you choose to fight? Will you choose the victory?

Will you accept and live worthy of the upward calling? Allow yourself to be kept by the One who made you?

It’s time to be something new.

One of us has to die; who is it going to be?

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” – Ephesians 5:6-11 (NKJV)

Enjoy Jesus!

Emily