Death to self

Killing the flesh may sound like grand, overwhelming words to the smallness of our minds. 
Starting with the fact that some of us have yet to come to the realization that our flesh truly posesses an issue.

Sometimes you’re not under spiritual attack but rather harvesting the fruit of seeds you’ve planted. 
In short and plain truth some of us are just still foolish.
Foolishness, mind you, is not always by choice. Sometimes it’s ignorance—my people perish for lack of knowledge—but other times it’s overestimating our own abilities to resist whats bad and embrace whats good. This comes from a certain arrogance, often rooted deeply in insecurity.

We can become deaf to wisdom, not because we don’t seek it, but because we are so full of our own foolishness, because we fear that the error might define us, and because being corrected, when misunderstood, causes discomfort. So we would rather find out by ourselves and figure things out on our own. Wich is foolishness in the eyes of God, the creator of the universe we live in. 

PLEASE !!!! 
My intention here isn’t to insult anyone but rather to spark a hunger for the remedy to our limitations. The more we indulge in foolishness, the more our conscience becomes desensitized, making it harder to recognize our errors.This happens when we lean on our own understanding instead of diligently praying for wisdom and actively seeking it. 
Then, when consequences arise, we’re quick to blame either God or the enemy.

In my experience, it’s precisely when I’m in the most intimate place with God—when I’m fully immersed in spiritual food and communion with Him—that spiritual attacks seem to come from every direction. You’ve likely experienced it: suddenly, five different people in one day are rude and inconsiderate, triggering insecurities and pushing every red button. Thoughts of doubt, self-belittlement, or anxiety surface out of nowhere. Why? Because you’re engaging in something that impacts the spiritual realm.

The enemy always attacks what he fears. He targets your relationship with the Creator, outraged at the thought of you stepping into the fullness of God’s destiny for you. How dare you freely receive what he has lost forever? His attacks are not random; they aim to derail you from doing what you were created for, disrupting the kingdom of darkness.How often have I been tempted to do something mundane or meaningless immediately after a deep encounter with the Lord? Simply to shift the focus or feel release? Far too often. How unlogical is that ...
And let’s be honest: sometimes, that false sense of peace or "chill" entices us to postpone entering His presence and engaging in deep conversation.
Everything in us says, Netflix, Insta, hang out, or FOOD, FOOD, FOOD, offering a counterfeit rest that isn’t true rest at all. Or is it just me?
No, it can't be just me🤔. More often than not, we -image-bearers of the Almighty God, created with free will and given dominion over the earth -misuse our freedom to feed fleshly desires. And I’m not even talking about overly sinful things. Sometimes, it’s seemingly harmless pleasures we deem “normal".
For example, someone might boast about never watching pornography but ignore the Holy Spirit's conviction about lustful thoughts, greed, or selfishness, which share the same root. You could spend a lifetime in such a state, only to be overtaken in sanctification by those who might be "fresh in faith" but confront their sin head-on and bear visible fruit of the Spirit because their memory of what they have been saved from is fresh yet.

Consider this: the entertainment industry has been an incredible ally to the enemy. That “harmless” movie, show, or song often subtly promotes infidelity, fornication, greed, sinister thought patterns, mental issues or manipulation. Scenes involving casual kissing - and everything in that field- (rarely between married couples), lies, or even sanitized violence gradually desensitize us.

Why move so close to the edge? Why fill our minds with garbage?
Anything that doesn’t speak life or build us up as royal citizens of heaven is, in its essence, garbage. I’m not saying never ever again watch or listen to secular content. In fact, much of what’s labeled “Christian” can be just as spiritually empty and sadly often is. That’s a topic for another time.
What I am saying is this: don’t fool yourself into thinking there are areas of your life exempt from the need for discernment and wisdom. 
Where do you hope to store the Word of God if your mind is clogged with hours of screen time, trivial pursuits, and negativity?
And then, at the end of the day, when intrusive thoughts of lust, lies, depression, or anger arise, you start rebuking the devil when, in truth, the issue lies with your flesh. 
Sometimes it's the fruit of fooling ourselves ... the fruit of foolishness. 
The flesh resists entering God’s holy presence, where sanctification by the Spirit happens.

Jesus is straightforward in Matthew 5–7. He emphasizes the importance of our eyes -WHAT WE CONSUME, hands- WHAT WE DO, and hearts- WHAT WE THINK; DWELL AND MEDITATE ON. His teaching calls us to cut off anything that causes us to sin. Death to self. Killing the flesh.
This imagery may seem violent, but sin demands such a response. Hate sin with a passion. Be proactive, even brutal in your battle against it.
Yes, the enemy despises us and uses every means to derail us. Some of us face impossible circumstances or tragedies, but we are not victims. We were created with free will to take our thoughts captive and submit them to Christ.
Victory comes not from our own strength but from surrendering to God and partnering with His will... proactive. 
True spiritual AND emotional maturity is evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 
These qualities grow as we die to ourselves daily, making more room for Jesus to live through us. 

Let’s normalize Jesus as the standard. 
Let’s prioritize the fruit of the Spirit over gifts and anointings. 
Let’s die daily so the Holy Spirit can transform us from within.