Have you ever wondered why we fall into the same old patterns of behavior – even tough we don’t want to and are determined not to? The previous post gives us part of the answer – feeding the “flesh” makes it grow in its ability to control you. The other part of the answer is to not just stop feeding, we also have to take an active role in starving it.
Garbage In
One of the first ways we starve our flesh is by stopping the inflow of garbage that comes in through our eyes and ears. That movie that tempts you to look at porn or fantasize about someone other than the spouse, that song that spews foul words, that game that causes us to spend too much time away from our loved ones or yelling at them to get out of the way or be quiet, that computer site that also eats our time and adds its own temptations.
What makes it garbage?
All of the above and more are not inherently bad things. There are good movies, songs, video games, books, magazines, plays, television shows, etc., that are not garbage, but cause us to neglect more important things. Maybe one thing is not your area of temptation and has no effect on you, but stymies your brother. The important thing is too look objectively at the things we allow into our lives from the aspect of it’s content and what it does or does not cause us to do or not do. Some things are automatically on this list from a biblical perspective, but others depend on how you use them.
Good better best.
An old saying my Mother used to use says, “Good, better, best, put it to the test, till your good is better and your better is best.” Some things are not wrong in and of themselves, but often we spend too much time on the good and miss out on the best. If your time would be better spent on something else, this item needs to go on your garbage list.
Garbage out, now what?
It’s not enough just to take out the bad or stop putting garbage in. We must also start putting in the good if we want to conquer the flesh. There’s a saying that talks about nature abhoring a vacuum. That works here too. If you leave an empty space, your enemy will soon find a way to fill it. So along with taking out the garbage and cleaning house, we must bring good things into our ‘house’ to replace those bad things we threw out.
It works for all
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8
If you are one of my non-Christian readers, this concept will help you as well, although the power of the Holy Spirit in the committed Christian goes a long way toward fighting fleshly desires. The point is that replacing that garbage with beautiful furnishings of things that are just, pure, true, honest, good, and worthy of praise, helps keep that old garbage from creeping back in over time.
Discovering the counterfeit 
Bank/treasury works learn to spot counterfeit money by handling real money so much that they instantly recognize a counterfeit when it passes through their hands. Deciding what is “garbage” and what is lovely works in the same way. We have to become so familiar with the good, with the things of God, that we instantly know when we are being fed garbage. The enemy is very good at making the counterfeit so much like the real that many people have no idea they are eating the garbage. But the more time you spend doing/hearing/seeing the good things, the God things, the more likely you will be able to make that distinction as you seek to starve out that fleshly nature.
You knew this was coming
Some of the things we can do, besides following the above verse, are listed below.
Using all the items at hand to keep from feeding the flesh and start starving it will help you in your walk with Christ or your search to eliminate those bad habits or sins that so easly beset us. It may will take a lifetime, but it is worth the pursuit of purity. Expect that the flesh will not go down easily, however, and watch out for his tactics.
Can you think of other ‘weapons’ you can use to starve the flesh?
Do you have a story of how you have (God has) defeated the flesh?
Does anything work better for you than another?
Do your intentions get in the way of your follow through?
doyoumeanwhatiknow 