“The war . . lasted a long time.” 2 Samuel 3:1 NIV
A heart with incompatible loyalties creates inescapable inner turmoil.
My thoughts and comments today are about “inner conflict.”
Interpersonal conflict is disconcerting; intrapersonal conflict is even more distressing. You face an intrapersonal conflict every day, sometimes subtle, more times blatant. Your humanity would like to enjoy living right and doing right most of the time, but occasionally doing as you wish. That is a recipe for spiritual disaster. “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate, I do.” Romans 7:15/18-25 NIV. A heart torn by irreconcilable affections is a sure formula for a miserable life. When I was a teen, my Dad accurately described a young friend of mine as, “having too much of God to enjoy the world and too much of the world to be at peace with God.” That describes the spiritual torment of inner conflict.
The prophet, Samuel, tells of a struggle between those loyal to King Saul (who represents the man of the flesh), and those loyal to David (who represents the man of the Spirit). Samuel poignantly reports that, “The war . . lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.” 2 Samuel 3:1 NIV. To the degree one prevails the other weakens. The war within one’s soul will endure if indulged. That war is not with God; it is within yourself.
A heart with incompatible loyalties creates inescapable inner turmoil. There is an ongoing spiritual struggle inside every Christ-follower, until finally resolved. Your old nature – the way you used to be – is in opposition, an enemy of Christ which longs for its old ways, loves its own will, and seeks pleasure without regard. Read Romans 6:21-23 NLT. Within is a new nature fashioned after Christ, drawing you toward the person you really want to be – redeemed, delivered, and brand new in Jesus. See 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV.
You can’t enjoy serving God while struggling with guilt and shame from not doing what you know is right to do. See James 4:17 NIV. Be thankful you can’t enjoy what the Bible describes as the, “passing pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:25 NIV), because the Spirit is faithful to convict your heart of sin and stir your longing for God. This war will last a long time, unless you decide with finality.Your victory in this inner conflict is only found by choosing firmly and finally to simply follow Jesus – without exceptions, excuses, or compromises.
“So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Spirit. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives you desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from the conflict . . Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.” Galatians 5:16-24 NLT. Nailing? Crucifying? Does that sound severe? It’s not too severe if you want to win this inner war instead of allowing it to, “last a long time!” Paul made the process simple, “If you are living now by the Holy Spirit, follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of your life.” Galatians 5:25 NLT.
My prayer today is that you will recognize the enemy and win the war.