Tonight, as I was making a salad to go with dinner I began talking to my sons about:

The War

between the flesh and the spirit.

I shared how we can be ruled by the flesh (our body) in our choices. I was met with a:

Huh?!?

I explained this battle further on Lonisa Mari YouTube.

Study Galatians 5 for yourself.

Life by the Spirit

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, -. – Galatians 5: 13-22

The above is sooooooooooo good! Gone ahead and eat it up. Chew on it – it becomes sweeter as it settles.

That thirteenth first verse alone:

“…We are called to be free.”

Yet, I’ve made fleshly choices that have led to death and destruction in areas of my life.

Choices that led to:

Chains

Causing me to look back like -> yoooooooooooo why didn’t I listen?

This is why I am so passionate about telling my children the truth from God’s Word and my own failings. I don’t care how they look at me. I want to spare them the pain I have experienced. I want to spare them the time I have lost. Yes, I know that through Jesus that will all be redeemed, but still -> I’m team:

“….Avoid this pitfall!”

Wisdom cries out, Are you listening?

As a mother, I want my children to go further than me! I want them to come out the gate already building on the firm foundation of Jesus. Not the flesh. The flesh will crumble. The flesh will fail. The flesh will decay, leaving an odor that Febreze cannot handle.

I’m reminded of how I graduated from college with debt. That’s what moving by the flesh is like. It’s stacking up debts, day after day. Debts that you can’t pay. Debts that the government cannot forgive. Debts that only Jesus can conquer and wipe clean.

No matter how much we move by the spirit, we will fall short daily, and move by the flesh.

God knows this. Which is why we have been given the gift of Jesus.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

I encourage you to surrender your life and efforts to win the battle alone. Invite Jesus into your life.

• Admit that you are flawed and don’t have it together.
• Believe that Jesus died for you and rose back, conquering death.
• Confess that you Jesus is your Lord and savior.

Talk to God in your own words from your heart.

Be Real.

I know that it’s not as easy as “believing”. I pray that as you read these words you come into revelation of who Jesus is. Come into revelation of truth. That all confusion and hindrances to the truth dissolve – through Jesus. May your curiosity exceed your skepticism.

Ask for revelation yourself. May you be shooketh by the nearness of Jesus.

I have been raised to follow Jesus and have had seasons of “I don’t know about this” – but I tell you I have had experiences that have left me in awe. Experiences where I have been like wait….this is real. God really is moving. God really does hear me. Like…I’m not alone through this effed up ish. Now, I got questions as to why this effed up ish has happened like… a lot of times…bahahaha…I know you know what I’m talking about.

Jesus ain’t afraid of questions.

The little children are welcome (Mark 10: 13-14)….and I don’t care how “grown” I get. I’m still in the child category. Jesus can handle more questions than Google and all the AI platforms*.

If you decide to surrender your life and join the adventure of following Jesus, let me know in the comments.

On my Step Up: Daily 10K walks I spend a lot of time just coming clean about my poor choices, the things I need help with, the ish that upsets me, the ish that has made me smile. I talk to God like I’m talking to you, asking for help and all that I need. I invite you to join the free facebook group.

I’m telling you God is listening. It may not always feel like it. Ish may seem the same. But know God is always at work threading seemingly unrelated things together – even our fleshly blunders.

This post is not to guilt or condemn – but to shed light so that God’s transformation can come.

I allow my flesh to win certain battles daily. Thankfully, through Jesus, the war is won!

It’s too much pressure trying to get a gold star on my own! bahahahahaha

I hope you join me in self evaluating with the Holy Spirit – to identify areas where the flesh is dominating.

Much Love,

*AI tools are helping humans, but low key-high key trying to be an all knowing God…counterfeit…..conglomerate…stay safe out here.