(The Benefits Of Spiritual Exercise)
TO THE BIBLE: Matthew 26:40-41
“Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, “What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.””
LET’S TALK
Some folks talk about how they tried to pray about an issue but felt so weak that they couldn’t even utter a word. Others describe how they had some terrible attacks while sleeping. They felt some evil force pressing them down and choking them, and they tried to shout “Jesus!” but couldn’t move their mouths.
For these folks, the human spirit, even during sleep, recognised what was going on, but was unable to get the body to cooperate. If the body was under the spirit’s control, it would’ve been able to respond appropriately.
This is why you must learn to tame your flesh and its senses by engaging in spiritual exercises.
1 Timothy 4:8 says, “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” You must strengthen and position your spirit to have mastery over your flesh.
One of the spiritual exercises you can engage in is memorising scriptures. Even though the scriptures are meant to be stored in your heart, it’s very important that you train your mind to keep and recall them.
Another form of spiritual exercise is fasting and prayer. When you fast and pray, you learn to put your body under. Your body may revolt at first, but don’t give in to it.
Whenever you have an opportunity for spiritual exercise, do it gladly. That way, you’re taming the flesh and its senses and bringing it under subjection to your spirit.
Go Deeper
1 Corinthians 9:27; 1 Timothy 4:7
Speak:
My spirit is alive to God and sensitive to His leading. I’m not a man of the senses; therefore, I refuse to yield to the cravings of the flesh. I’m from above; therefore, I seek only those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Hallelujah!
Daily Bible Reading
ONE YEAR
1 Corinthians 2, Psalms 107-108
TWO YEAR
Luke 17:1-10, 1 Samuel 2
Act:
Memorise a scripture of your choice daily.