The very essence of Christianity is the concept of being transformed from your old nature to the new. The Bible says that once you give your life to Christ, you become a new creature, the old you dies and you become a new person. (2 Corinthians 5:17) This change is instant in the spirit realm, but it's a daunting process in the physical.

One of the key purposes of having the Spirit of God, Holy Spirit, living in you, is to equip us with the wisdom, strength and ability to renew our minds. To teach us how to become Christ-like. (John 14:26)

It is also a commandment. Brother Paul told us to crucify our flesh and it's desires. In Romans 8:13 he said "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live". {Which is where I got the "Smoke" in my nickname from. To smoke my flesh} But what does it mean to put to death the desires of the flesh?

In simple terms, it means, those things you used to do, think, believe, that are wrong but you did, before you became born-again. The lies, the cursing, the fornication, the adultery, the worrying, the fights, the hate, the jealousy and envy, etc. You have to consciously put a stop to them. You might say, it's not easy, that's true, it's not, and that's why you have the advocate, the Holy Spirit. He will help you. So long as you avail yourself. 

I always find it difficult to process a Born Again Christian who is still struggling with age old habits after all many years in the faith, making it seem the Holy Spirit is incapable.

In 1 Corinthians 3:2-3 Paul again said "I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?"

It's necessary that we grow as Christians. It's non-negotiable and it's something we all must strive to do constantly. Many of us tend to compare stubborn old behaviors to Brother Paul's "thorn in the flesh" as if to say, they've tried but it's just not going away. But that's very inaccurate. We don't know what Paul's thorn was. So juxtapositing the two is quite irresponsible. 

I'll end by saying this "And do not be conformed to this world, but be "TRANSFORMED" by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2"

Shalom 🙏🏾