Subdue The Flesh

I Discipline My Body And Subdue It — 1 Corinthians 9:27

One of the effects of the Fall (Gen. 3) is that we are born into this world subject to sinful desires. Even after we are born again (Jn. 3:3) through faith, repentance, and baptism, continual warfare against our inborn concupiscence is required.

You want to please God, keep His commandments, and grow daily in holiness. But there is a contrary principle within you, a strong inclination to evil.

You will contend with your “Adamic nature” (Rm. 5:15), your “old self ” (Rm. 6:6), until you die, or until Christ returns and you receive your resurrection body (Jb. 19:26).

Saint Paul writes:

The Holy Spirit, who dwells within, makes us aware that our passions are not good and that we must resist them.

Don’t feel too bad about sinful desires; fight against them! In the lives of the Desert Fathers, we read that

If you are aware of your sinful tendencies and struggle against them, be encouraged and know that you are on the right path.

Mortification is the practice of keeping the flesh in check.

Saint Paul writes,

Fasting is the most common approach to keeping the body under control, yet there are many options.

“It is by grace that you are saved” (Eph. 2:8), and grace is obtained by prayer.

Prayerful Bible reading lifts the mind to God and extinguishes the yearnings of the flesh. The Fathers of the Church tell us that chanting the Psalms calms the passions.

Pray to conquer sinful desires.

When the Apostles were out on the sea during the storm, they cried,

Saint John Cassian taught his disciples to pray,

Use the Jesus Prayer,

to quell the rebellious flesh.

Persistence is required. Be persistent and unrelenting in your struggle against the flesh.

Recall the Parable of the Unjust Judge (Lk. 18:1–8).

Don’t give up, and the temptation will dissipate.

By divine grace, ascetic mortification, prayer, and persistent effort, we will conquer the flesh and be conformed to Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Decide today to engage in this struggle energetically, for your eternal salvation depends on it.

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