Tuesday, May 4, 2010

P4E.139 39 Times When I'm Prone to Fall to My Flesh

"The serious Christian man diligently searches out God's ways!"
Ken Nair - Life Partners

As a part of my search, I am compiling a list of the times when I feel weakest to falling to my flesh. What I mean is that there are physical circumstances when I fall prey to being angry, impatient, frustrated and/or other temptations that lead to sin (flesh). The reason it's important to identify these times is that they cause me to hurt the ones closest to me. If I'm to conquer my flesh, I need to pinpoint my own areas of weakness so that I can go to God for His strength at the very moment when I am weakest. I'd be interested to hear if yours matches mine and/or if you have others that you would add from your own experience. So, here goes:

I am prone to fall to my fleshly ways when I:

1. am hot
2. am cold
3. am hungry
4. am thirsty
5. am tired
6. am stressed out
7. am sick
8. am pressed for time (running late)
9. am short on money
10. have to wait
11. have lost something
12. am in pain
13. make a mistake
14. feel unprepared
15. have to depend on someone else
16. feel ignored
17. feel like things aren't going my way
18. am doing something that takes longer than I thought it would
19. have an idea that's challenged
20. experience unusual circumstances
21. experience the same darn thing happen over and over again
22. am wrongly accused
23. am rightly accused
24. am confused

Remember, the list is not the end. It is the means to identify moments when I'm weak and need to count on God's strength so that I don't do spiritual damage to those around me (or myself). Here's more:

I am prone to fall to my fleshly ways when I:

25. am alone (they even have a saying for this one: 'you can gauge the character of a man by what he does when he's alone')
26. have nothing to do (this one has a saying too: 'an idle mind is the devil's workshop')
27. believe there is no hope
28. have to take the blame when it's not my fault
29. have to take the blame when it is my fault
30. see (what appears to me to be) incompetence in others
31. my directions are misunderstood or not followed (I thought my instructions were brilliant!)
32. am driving (this is (or should be) on every guy's list)
33. am driving and lost (I wouldn't think of asking for directions!)
34. forget something (as in, I'm driving two blocks away from home and remember I left it at the house)
35. am in a crowd of people (the last time I really 'fleshed out' was (ironically) at a Billy Graham Crusade)
36. am inconvenienced
37. see (what appears to me to be) an injustice
38. am treated unfairly
39. am at Holiday functions (I can't tell you how many I've ruined!)

What's on your list?

Peace, Kim

7 comments:

  1. What a great list that points out that I can fall to my flesh and just about anytime.

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  2. 26. have nothing to do (this one has a saying too: 'an idle mind is the devil's workshop') = My biggest risk. It has been a challenge to not want to just go idle at times. I am seeing there is a big difference between 'rest' and being 'idle'.

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  3. here's one or two:
    ...when someone compliments me (I'm in danger of getting a big head)
    ...when I have a spiritual victory (I am in danger of letting down my guard)
    ---"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." (1 Cor 10:12 NKJV)

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  4. Great reminder to all of us to be on guard.

    Dropped by from 31DBBB.

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  5. Anytime I'm not "in the zone" with Jesus, which is, sadly, quite a lot of the time. And all that stuff you listed? It does tend to take you out of the zone, doesn't it? Ouch!

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  6. This post reminds me of the old hymn "I need thee every hour."

    An exerpt

    I need thee, O I need thee;
    every hour I need thee;

    No truer words for me have ever been spoken.

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  7. JD - "Anytime" just about sums it up doesn't it? But I do think it's worthwhile to focus on specific times so that I can prepare.

    ragamuffin - There's a reason they came up with that saying about an "idle mind" isn't there? Thanks for the comment!

    R. Rnipes - Thanks for the added thoughts! My spirit has been naturally self-depricating so I don't usually go here, but I know that many men must.

    Larry - Thanks for dropping by. That 31DBB project is going to be helpful isn't it?

    Cindy - Absolutely. That's why I think it's helpful to have one and review it from time to time.

    Debby Webb - We do need His help on a moment by moment basis don't we? Thanks!

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