Feeding the Flesh

I was recently prompted to go on a three day fast. Most food and beverages were off limits.  Oh how I missed my coffeeJ. I believe the Lord prompted the fast because I had been encountering significant resistance while moving forward in the call of God. I saw this happening to others as well.

I spent time with the Lord, engaging in worship and prayer; Scripture study; quiet meditation, and such – but did not experience an encounter with Him to the degree I had hoped when I started the fast.

By the end of the third day, I found myself tempted to focus on what I was going to eat in the days ahead. All the food I was currently saying “no” to would soon be available for my choosing. It would no longer be a matter of denying myself; I would be free to have whatever I craved. That was my “aha” moment.

You see, it’s one thing to have a limit to your “fast”. You may get to choose how long you will go without, or even “what” you will go without. It’s something else altogether to accept that we are called to “deny ourselves daily”.

 So, what if the Lord does not want me to return to the same level “freedom” in my diet? What if He wants to tell me “no” when I want to reach for the glazed donut? Would I listen? Would I accept that He has the right to control what I eat, when I eat, and how much I eat?

I am beginning to realize just how much sway the appetite of the flesh still holds over me – just put chocolate in front of me and I crumbleJ. Okay, maybe not crumble, but it’s unlikely I will say “no”.

The appetites of the flesh don’t concern just food either. It can be any source of pleasure.  Take for instance the area of entertainment – are we willing to miss “Dancing with the Stars” because the Lord wants His Bride to spend time dancing with Him? Do we argue that at least we aren’t watching “morally degrading” programs? That may be true, but how much of it nourishes our Spirit?

The appetites of the flesh also manifest as greed or the constant striving to get more stuff, better stuff, the newest stuff.  I don’t particularly care to shop, but I still can find myself longing to decorate my home in some cute way or find some snazzy new outfit to wear. For some, NOT being able to fulfill those desires leaves feelings of frustration or emptiness. If the money is available to pursue such wants, do we stop and question whether that is truly how God would have us use that money? Or do we justify that we’ve earned it and continue to use the money as a tool to satisfy our flesh desires?

Our flesh appetite can even appear in relationships to others. When we look to control others to minimize our discomfort we are seeking to please the flesh. When we strive to get affirmation or attention from others in order to feel good about ourselves, we are longing to feed the flesh. When we demand our rights – we feed the flesh!

I am grateful that God is showing me that I still don’t deny myself to the degree of which He is worthy. I still need to enter into greater surrender and willingness to let him dictate ALL circumstances of my life.  This is not to be just some three day event, but rather a new way of life! Lord truly, your will be done.