“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims,
abstain from fleshly lusts
which war against the soul…”
1st Peter 2:11

“…which war against the soul…”

Is it exaggeration to say that our fleshly lusts actually war against us? Well …if you’re addicted to anything, you know you’re in a war against your soul. If it’s drugs or cigarettes, alcohol, food, tv or anything else, just try stopping them and you’ll see what a warfare you’re involved in.

Is this a war we can win? That depends on how you deal with it. If you try to gain victory by your own strength there’s no way you’re going to win the battle. If you should happen to win in one area, it will be replaced with something else.

“For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh
nothing good dwells;
for to will is present with me,
but HOW to perform what is good I do not find.
For the good that I will to do, I do not do;
but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.”
Romans 7:18-19

Only God has the power to overcome that which rules against his people.

See what Jesus said he came to do:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to preach the gospel to the poor;
he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed…”
Luke 4:18

Take this passage and pray it every day. ASK him to heal your broken heart. ASK him to deliver you from what you are captive to. ASK him to set you free from what oppresses you.

ASK. And believe.