Whichever Dog You Feed is The One That Wins

"We naturally love to do evil things that are just the opposite from the things that the Holy Spirit tells us to do; and the good things we want to do when the Spirit has his way with us are just the opposite of our natural desires. These two forces within us are constantly fighting each other to win control over us, and our wishes are never free from their pressures." -Philippians 4:13

I once heard Pastor tell a Native American story as an analogy for temptation and battling with sin. The story says that and elder man

was telling a younger man that within each of us, there are two dogs fighting. Each dog represents our two different natures--our carnal, nature of the fleshly, selfish desires, and our good, spiritual, and selfless nature. The young man asks the elder, "Which dog wins the fight?" And the elder grins and replies, "Whichever dog you feed."

I love that story because it so greatly depicts the truth as to how to overcome sin and temptation--by choosing not to feed into it! That means if your temptation is sexual sin, don't feed the "dog" of lust by watching media that will only encourage your lust, or by putting yourself in situations where you're bound to give in. If your temptation is spending your entire paycheck on clothes, don't spend all your time at the mall, on clothing websites, or looking at fashion magazines--don't feed the dog that will only encourage your behavior. If you struggle with gambling--stay away from casinos. If you struggle with drugs and alcohol, don't spend your time at bars or with people who will encourage that behavior--don't "feed the dog" of alcoholism or drug abuse--kill it! Instead, feed the "good" dog that will help you gain victory over the habits that can be harmful to your mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being!

The Bible tells us, that like the story of the dogs, that there are two natures constantly at war in our mind (Philippians 4:13). The spiritual nature which wants to do good, and our carnal nature (our flesh) which is only concerned with the self, with feeling good in-the-moment, and living for the sole purpose of personal pleasure. And you don't have to look to the Bible to know that this is true. It is a timeless wisdom that's been humorously depicted in the past even in cartoons! (Think of the character with the angel on one shoulder and the demon on the other!) We all have an innate sense of what we feel is right and what is most beneficial to us and those around us, as well as what is harmful and least beneficial to us and those around us--it's a part of our nature, it's just how we've been made!

So, now that we are aware that there is in fact a battle occurring, the question now becomes, how do we win?

Luckily, we aren't on our own when it comes to defeating sin and temptation. The Bible tells us that God can relate to our trials, because when Christ walked the earth he experienced the very same temptations we do, so he is more than able to help us when we are going through our own temptations (Hebrews 2:18). We are told that we "can do everything God asks us to with the help of Christ who gives us the strength and power" (Philippians 4:13). And that it is not so much about OUR will and OUR strength to do good, but that it is the power and ability of God working through us that gives us the strength to defeat temptations and live a life in line with all the goodness He desires for us (See 2 Corinthians 3:5).

In Zechariah 4:6 God tells us "'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD. 'You shall succeed by My Spirit.'"

In Romans 7:15, the apostle Paul (a guy who is historically documented as a man who went around killing Christians, but then became one and ended up writing most of the New Testament of the Bible) --he expresses his frustration for the war that is waged against his soul. He says, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate, I do!" (Talk about frustrating, huh!) He goes onto say that "Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law (His word); but I see another law (force) at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

How encouraging is that! My hope is that after reading this post, whatever you are struggling with, or whatever "dogs" are battling each other in your mind, that you may have faith in knowing that God is for you, that He loves you, and forgives anyone who asks for it, and most of all that He is able to strengthen and encourage you when you suffer and are tempted (1 Corinthians. 10:13).

Love you all, Have a great week everyone! :-)