“The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”  – It makes me very sad that people have used this verse as an excuse for falling into temptation.

Sure, Jesus quoted this to tell the disciples to keep watch so they will not get tempted. But I don’t think He wants us to use this as an excuse. Yes, our flesh is definitely weak, but God’s Holy Spirit in us is stronger, and so powerful indeed that He is able to save us, to sustain our faith and keep on saving us!

Obeying God is possible and doable when we are controlled by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). It is impossible to obey only if the Spirit and you are not one and the same nature. So, rethink whose nature you are carrying: is the Spirit of God living in you? If not, it’s time to repent. He is faithful; He will finish what He has started, so it’s better to make sure there is a start that God can finish.

But as surely as God is God and you are born again of the Holy Spirit, He uses all powers at his disposal to create situations in your life so you make a decision – “will you be stubborn or will you obey?” Your flesh may be weak, but His nature in you is divine!  Do not focus – or make excuses – on how you get tempted so easily because your flesh is weak. Instead, focus on how powerful God’s Spirit lives in you. You are no longer controlled by the flesh but by the Spirit of God living in you (Romans 8:8). Know that your heart is now soft toward Him, that now you can submit to Him and obey Him.

His Holy Spirit is stronger than your flesh that is weak. We who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

“Listen! The LORD’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.”  – Isaiah 59:1

Therefore Jesus is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. – Hebrews 7:25