When The Flesh Wins

Let’s talk about the part of Christianity most people won’t…

What happens when you fail?

When the flesh wins.

When you fall back into something you thought God already delivered you from.

Those moments.

I love Jesus. I really do.

I seek Him. I pray. I open His Word. I want my life to reflect Him. But if you follow my content, I want you to understand something about me…

I’m not perfect.

There are days I struggle.

Days where my flesh gets the better of me.

Days where I walk away from a moment thinking,

“Lord… I should have handled that differently.”

And I’ll be honest…

There are days my flesh wins battles I wish it didn’t. And in those moments the enemy loves to whisper, “See? You’re not who you say you are.”

But here’s something I’ve learned through my failures… Those moments are exactly what the gospel is about.

The gospel was never for people who never fall. It’s for people who fall… and realize they desperately need a Savior. It’s for the person who runs back to God after messing up and says…

“Lord, without Your mercy I have nothing.”

My failures don’t make me run from Christ.

They make me run to Him. Because every time I fall short, I’m reminded of something powerful…

I was never saved because of my perfection. I was saved because of His grace. So if you follow my page thinking I’ve got it all figured out…

I don’t.

I’m just a flawed human being who loves Jesus and keeps getting back up, running to the cross.

The cross wasn’t built for people who have it all together, It was built for people like me who don’t. Author: Ryan Teaford

Remember the Treasure in Your Jar of Clay

 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay,

to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”

2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV)

Recently I visited a pottery store, looking for a special gift. Marveling at the beautiful pieces crafted by local artisans, I quickly found the perfect item - some golden-glazed, wood-fired mugs.

As I left the store, a sign on a small shed caught my attention: “Tired and Flawed Pots.” I chuckled to myself, appreciating the honesty of whoever posted the sign.

At first glance, the pottery in the shed looked similar to the pieces inside the store. But when I looked closer, I noticed these vessels were chipped, misshapen or imperfect in some way. For whatever reason, the potter had deemed them unworthy of a place in the main store.

I sometimes wonder if God sees me that way. Am I too tired, flawed and weak to be valued by Him? When my failings and sinful nature frustrate me, I’m tempted to believe the lie that I’m not good enough or that He will put me on the shelf in the shed.

But I’m learning the opposite is true.

In the ancient world, clay jars were symbolic of human weakness. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he reminds us that God chooses clay jars to fill with His treasure - the Good News of Jesus Christ:

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

As followers of Jesus:

1. Each of us is a clay jar.
2. Each of us has this treasure - the power of the gospel.
3. The power of the treasure belongs to God, not us.
4. God shows His power through us, the clay jars.

Paul’s words encourage us to be content with our weaknesses and hardships, even boasting of them.

God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,” so Paul said, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

If you’re feeling weak and discouraged, remember this truth:

God has given you His treasure in your weakness, and He’ll shine His power through it. Your weakness may be the very thing God will use to bring others to Him.

We can choose to bring our weaknesses to Jesus in prayer instead of becoming frustrated by them or letting them trip us up. When our focus is on sharing the treasure, not the clay jar, those around us will see the surpassing power of God.

Loving Father, thank You for giving me the treasure of Jesus in my clay jar. When I feel weak and unworthy, remind me that You choose weak vessels to fill with Your power. Help me to focus on the treasure and not on myself. Please shine through me! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

- Lisa Lenning
Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"