Pastor Joel Osteen Daily Devotional October 13 2023.

SCRIPTURE: Galatians 5:16–17, NIV “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

What’s limiting some people is not that they’re not talented or that they don’t have God’s favor. It’s that they keep sowing to the flesh. Don’t keep giving in to the same things that you know are holding you back. The next time that you’re tempted to be jealous, to find fault, or to say something critical, tell your flesh, “No, I’m not going there. I’m going to be happy for them. I’m going to see the best in people.” When you feel like staying up all night on the computer, tell your flesh, “Not tonight. I’m either going to pray or I’m going to bed. I’m going to take care of myself.” The next time the friends who are pulling you down and causing you to compromise want to get together, tell them, “Sorry, something has come up. I can’t hang out tonight.” Quit letting the flesh be the dictator. You have to take charge of your life. The flesh is not leading you anywhere productive.

The Scripture says, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11, NIV). Being disciplined is not easy. Walking away when someone is rude, not giving in to temptation, and getting up early to excel at work are difficult. Your flesh wants to be comfortable. Your flesh wants the easy way out, but you can’t be comfortable all the time and reach your destiny. If you do the hard thing now, later on you’ll see blessings and favor that you’ve never seen.

But the flesh always wants instant gratification. “If I tell this person off, it will make me feel good right now. If I buy this item that I can’t afford, or if I sleep in and skip work, I’ll feel good right now.” But it’s important to think about later on. We should be growing. We should be getting stronger. We should be further along now than we were five years ago. If I’m still dealing with my temper the same way I did years ago, I’m leaving my flesh on the throne. If I’m still getting offended, upset, and jealous in the same way as years ago, I’m letting the flesh dictate my life. I’m not saying we have to be perfect, but we should be growing.

Dear God, I come to You today, admitting that I’m weak. Sometimes, I give into anger, laziness, or other temptations. Thank You that Your love is stronger than my old ways. Help me, God, to stop feeding the negatives. Show me how to starve the bitterness, the jealousy, the compromise. Teach me discipline, and let Your grace cover me. Even if my desires don’t entirely vanish, I trust Your power within me to resist and to make better choices. Please, Father, remind me not to use excuses but to recognize Your strength within me. Every time I overcome, I grow stronger. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.