The natural man, or unbeliever, knows nothing about carnality. The desires of the flesh warring against the Spirit, and the Spirit warring against the flesh, which began at rebirth, are what produce carnality and the awareness of it. But Paul said, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). In other words, carnality will disappear.Are you quarrelsome and easily upset over small things? Do you think that no one who is a Christian is ever like that? Paul said they are, and he connected these attitudes with carnality. Is there a truth in the Bible that instantly awakens a spirit of malice or resentment in you? If so, that is proof that you are still carnal. If the process of sanctification is continuing in your life, there will be no trace of that kind of spirit remaining.If the Spirit of God detects anything in you that is wrong, He doesn’t ask you to make it right; He only asks you to accept the light of truth, and then He will make it right. A child of the light will confess sin instantly and stand completely open before God. But a child of the darkness will say, “Oh, I can explain that.” When the light shines and the Spirit brings conviction of sin, be a child of the light. Confess your wrongdoing, and God will deal with it. If, however, you try to vindicate yourself, you prove yourself to be a child of the darkness.What is the proof that carnality has gone? Never deceive yourself; when carnality is gone you will know it— it is the most real thing you can imagine. And God will see to it that you have a number of opportunities to prove to yourself the miracle of His grace. The proof is in a very practical test. You will find yourself saying, “If this had happened before, I would have had the spirit of resentment!” And you will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.
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March 23, 2016
Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Good morning Lord and thank you for this devotional. This one, like so many of the others, confirms Your teaching of many months; namely that our sanctification, growth and stability as children of God comes about through our surrender and connection to You; that the changes in our lives are truly an inside job, and that gritting out teeth and trying harder is not the way. Thank You for that confirmation and reassurance.

And God says…”When you read the Sermon on the Mount you begin to understand that it is not possible for you to measure up. When you read Paul’s cry in Romans 7 you realize that even the Apostle Paul struggled to make the right choices and then you grasp the notion that the Bible is full of stories about men and women that made wrong choices. Imperfect people living imperfect lives. But inside of that awareness you also come to understand that even though you cannot and do not “measure up” the Holy Spirit can and does change you, over time, from the inside out, and that you can only measure up as you allow Jesus to live through you. The Holy Spirit can and does make you a man after My own heart when you give up your rights to yourself; when you live in surrender to Jesus.”