Prayer When The Spirit Is Willing But The Flesh Is Weak

Are you struggling with lustful thoughts, uncontrollable anger, sexual sin or hatred?  You genuinely wish to do right, but you find yourself doing the opposite? Maybe you are in a situation that you disagree with as a child of God, and you are trying so hard to get out, but you find yourself in the same situation over and over again? 

You feel that maybe you are just a disobedient and unworthy Christian? You have even given up praying against it because it keeps getting worse? Your spirit is willing to do right, but your flesh is weak.

Being a human being is being subjected to weaknesses. There is no perfect human being. Yes, the Bible says in Matthew 5:48 “that be ye perfect even as your heavenly Father is perfect.” 

But the word translated “perfect” literary means “be complete”. So it does not refer to achieving total moral perfection, but rather, achieving a level of moral integrity. Jesus himself said no one is good except God. (Luke 18:19).

So does this mean it is okay to allow weaknesses of our flesh to reign over us? No, that is why we need God to help us live according to His will.

John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one abiding in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit. For apart from Me, you are able to do nothing.

There is hope for you in Jesus Christ. Change is possible in Him. You might be struggling with sexual sin, lustful thoughts or anger, but I want to encourage you to look upon Jesus Christ. Allow yourself to depend on Him. Do not be discouraged by your weakness, fix your gaze on Jesus Christ, and He will fix you.

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Allow God’s power of redemption to work in You. He is the author of your faith, and He is also the finisher. So walk in the confidence that God who started a good work of repentance in You will finish it as you yield yourself to Him.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

It is not your work to change yourself, otherwise it will be temporal. It is the Lord who changes us by birthing us in His word and spirit.

James 1:18 It was of His own will that He gave us birth [as His children] by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of His creatures [a prime example of what He created to be set apart to Himself—sanctified, made holy for His divine purposes].

1 Peter 1:23 for you have been born again [that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] not of seed which is perishable but [from that which is] imperishable and immortal, that is, through the living and everlasting word of God.

That is your truth, child of God. You are birthed by and through the living word of God, which is the word of truth. As you surrender to him, as you wait on Him, meditate on His word. For if we look unto Him (in His word), then we shall be like Him. You will experience renewal and transformation in the name of Jesus Christ.

Let Us Pray –  Prayer When The Spirit Is Willing But The Flesh Is Weak

Dear Lord, You have searched me, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, You, Lord, know it completely. – Psalm 139:1-4

Lord, You know everything about me and there is nothing that I can hide from You. You know my ways, my lies, my lustful thoughts, my sexual weakness and my uncontrollable  anger. You know every weakness in my flesh.

I have tried giving it up by myself, but I disappointed myself many times. Enough Lord, with this hatred in me! Enough with doing it alone and in my own power. I come boldly before Your throne of grace, that I may receive mercy for my weaknesses and failures, and find grace in this time of need.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Lord, even if I try to stop myself it will not be long, before I start going against your word again. You are my hope Lord. It is not over when Jesus my Lord is on the throne. Give me the strength to obey You, and disobey my flesh. 

Give me the strength to submit to You, then that will be my power to overcome my weakness. You are my strength, Lord. When I am weak, then I am strong, because your strength sustains me. For your strength is made perfect in my weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Lord, I receive grace today, your grace which is made perfect in weaknesses! I receive it Lord today for this sexual weakness. When I am tempted, then Lord, I will not struggle or give in anymore, because it is your grace that will sustain me.

Perfect your strength in my weakness. Perfect your strength in my lust, in my uncontrollable anger, in my hatred! Perfect it, Lord.

Today, I choose to rely on you completely with no doubt that I am a victor in every weakness, because Christ is my victory. I bring every thought of defeat into captivity in the name of Jesus Christ. I am free! He who the Lord sets free is free indeed. Thank You Jesus Christ! Amen!

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