What does it mean to crucify the flesh? And how do you do it?
I did it today regarding 'over-indulgence in food', and I'll have the same call--to do it tomorrow.
I live on very few foods, which is 'prudent' and my 'flesh' (palate, habit, memories, looking at others for comparison...) pushes me to act against prudence/reality/truth/Spirit, and today I resisted:
I prayed the Jesus Prayer; I read from The Philokalia; from the Bible; from John Climacus' Ladder of Divine Ascent, and I committed, prayerfully, to obeying the Spirit, and not the flesh...
It was hard at points, more so at certain points than others...
And that is one vice, over-indulgence.
It helps to know 'why', and remind myself 'what prudence' means, what it is tied to--Classical Christian definition, not utilitarian 'security-minded' definiton, which is modern.
So 'crucifying the flesh' is dying to it and being alive to the Spirit.
If i didn't focus on Daily Devotion, I wouldn't have been able to do it, today. And if I don't make the same commitment through tonight and into tomorrow, I will 'live in the flesh' and it's appetites and be dead in Spirit.
I pray, over and over, throughout the day, to live for God, in God, UP to God.
Today, it's been a God-centered day--temptations, yes; giving in to them, no.
~ Carolyn