Daily Devotionals by Ardith Keef

   When Paul talks about the death of the flesh, he is dead serious.
     The taking up of the Cross daily, means the death of the flesh.
     Soldier of the Cross, the flesh is always concerned about how it has been 
treated.  It always wants to talk about how it has suffered.  The flesh always 
wants attention and vindication because it has been crossed, or because it can't
have its way.
     Particularly in marriage, this is the critical issue.  Is your mate difficult? Does
he or she misunderstand you?  Ignore you?  Insult you?
     The enemy will come at you with all kinds of images of your suffering, and
you will find yourself mentally chasing the balance.
     That is what the Lord calls a "false balance"  It is the balance of the flesh.  It
is the desire to be proven right.  It is the desire of the flesh to live.
     Oh, Soldier, if there is one thing I could give you, it would be the revelation
of the beauty of the putting away of these things.  How can we be like Jesus?
How can we reflect Him?
     By suffering injustice, and by letting the Father reveal the Son through us.  By
allowing the Holy Spirit to lead in speech and action.
     Listen to yourself.  Are you talking about how much you have suffered?  Are
you expressing resentment about your mate's behavior?  Are you desperate for
a resolution?
     You need to take up The Cross.
     This happens in prayer.  It means your will conforms to the Will of God.  It
means the Lord has room in your life to reveal Himself.
     Christian Soldier, Jesus is not revealed in any other way.