That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2Thessalonians 1:12
Greetings Meagen,
Your testimony brings delight to my soul.
Only our Lord Jesus can do such beautiful works in our hearts as you describe.
As for your flesh... I used to battle all sorts of weaknesses, and get upset with myself... or, even worse, I would be riding a high cloud... feeling pretty pleased with myself that I was not giving in to my flesh. But no matter what I might think, it, the flesh, just keeps lusting and warring against the Spirit.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
1Peter 2:9-11
Yet as Paul points out,
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Romans 7:15-25
and then also we are exhorted in Galatians 5:16-17 .... This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
So, Meagen, the battle goes on.... BUT, in Christ we have redemption and hope, we have victory and joy.... and Salvation and peace.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Romans 8:1-11
And touching forgiveness.... how blessed we are to be given forgiveness and so be able to forgive others. We have been set free from the chains that bind us to unforgiveness which ends in bitterness and pain... yes, we have been set free to life, an abundant life of joy in Jesus Christ the Lord. Yes, praise His lovely name.
Yes, and when we consider how the Lord forgave those who crucified Him and argued over His belongings, how much more we are strengthened to also forgive...Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Meagen, thank you for sharing this testimony of what Jesus has done in your life. May you continue to see the hand of the Lord at work in you and give thanks and praise to Him.
Bless you ....><>
Br. Bear