Every believer knows the internal tug-of-war between the Spirit and the flesh. God speaks—sometimes gently, sometimes with urgency—prompting us to turn from sin and walk in righteousness. But often, instead of responding quickly, we push past His prompting and do what feels good in the moment.
Think about it.
– God says, “Forgive that person who hurt you.” But your flesh says, “After what they did? I can’t let that go. That was cruel—and they knew it.”
– The Holy Spirit urges, “Turn off that show—it’s not honoring to Me.” But your flesh insists, “I’ve had a long day. I just want to unwind. It’s not like I’m doing anything wrong.”
– God nudges you, “That flirtation isn’t innocent. Back away now.” But your flesh whispers, “It’s just fun. Nothing’s actually happening.”
– You feel the prompting, “Come spend time with Me in prayer.” But your flesh groans, “I’m too tired. Maybe tomorrow.”
Over and over again, we are faced with moments where two voices are speaking. One is God, calling us upward toward truth, holiness, and a deeper relationship with Him. The other is our flesh—often with the enemy’s whisper behind it—pulling us into compromise.
What struck me recently is this: we exert effort either way.
It takes effort to resist temptation—but it also takes effort to override the gentle voice of God. It takes intentional pushing to ignore that check in your spirit, to move forward with what you know isn’t right.
So here’s the question:
What if we started ignoring the devil instead of ignoring God?
James 4:7 (NLT) gives us the simple but powerful formula: “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
That’s not a passive stance—it’s an active choice. And the more we choose to resist the enemy and obey God, the more we grow in strength and maturity.
When we said “yes” to Jesus, the Holy Spirit came to live within us. He began opening our eyes to see the world differently—to see sin for what it is and righteousness for what it offers. The Word of God began to take on meaning. It revealed what pleases God and what poisons our soul.
Paul wrote in Romans 13:14 (NLT), “Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.”
Notice that: don’t even let yourself think about it. That’s where the battle is won or lost—right there in the thoughts we entertain or shut down.
So much of our Christian walk hinges on what we choose to listen to and respond to. If we respond to the Holy Spirit quickly—when He says, “Turn this off,” “Say you’re sorry,” “Step away,” “Seek Me now”—we build spiritual momentum. Obedience becomes a lifestyle, not just a struggle. And we become the kind of people who are truly led by God.
But if we keep tuning Him out… if we keep ignoring Him in favor of what our flesh craves… eventually, we stop noticing His voice altogether. And that’s a place we never want to be.
So again, let me ask you: Who are you ignoring?
Are you pushing past God’s voice to satisfy the flesh? Or are you learning to shut down temptation and say “yes” to the better thing?
Make no mistake—obedience is effort. But it’s effort that leads to peace, joy, and a life God can bless.
Let’s pray:
Lord, thank You for never giving up on me. I hear Your voice, even when I’ve been slow to respond. Today, I choose to ignore the lies of the enemy and listen for Your leading. Strengthen me to run from sin and pursue Your righteousness with all my heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Galatians 5:16 (NLT): “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”
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