Cravings

We all have cravings. During the fall season, I crave pumpkin roll and pumpkin pie — two things I should not even eat because I’m not supposed to eat pumpkin. We also all have moments we give in to our cravings. Case in point: I just had pumpkin roll a few days ago. The Bible talks about cravings and acting on cravings. In Galatians 5:17, we read: “When your self-life craves the things that offend the Holy Spirit you hinder Him from living free within you! And the Holy Spirit’s intense cravings hinder your self-life from dominating you! So then, the two incompatible and conflicting forces within you are your self-life of the flesh and the new creation life of the Spirit” (TPT). When we act on these cravings, it results in things like sexual immorality, moral impurity, idolatry, hatreds, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, factions, envy, drunkenness (see v. 19-21).

It is easy to agree that yes, when we act on our cravings, we see these results. We sadly are faced with the consequences. Today, let us focus on this verse. We seem to glance right over it and land on the results we get from listening to our cravings. Paul is saying that when you are craving things that you hinder the Spirit from living free within you. We can get so fixed on our cravings, that the focus is intensely there, away from the Spirit. We also read in this verse that the Spirit helps us from being dominated by our cravings. So what can we do?

We can crave the Spirit. We can desire God. We can fix our eyes on Him. Whenever we have the cravings, and the Spirit is stirring up and reminds us of this battle of “the two incompatible and conflicting forces,” we can draw near to God. The Bible says as we draw near to God, He will draw near to us (James 4:8). When we succumb to the cravings, it is because we act on the cravings. We focus on the cravings and take our eyes off of God. The power of the Holy Spirit is within us to fight against the cravings. The key is allowing Him to have control, letting Him move within us to help us overcome. This is not a one time decision, but an every-single-moment-of-every-day thing. We will win and we will falter depending on the choices we make with each breath. As we read in v. 19-21, the results are clear that we aren’t always victorious over them. Let us today pay attention to the stirring of the Spirit. May we keep our eyes intensely fixed on Him. May we ever be in His presence so that we dull the sounding of these worldly cravings and enjoy the joy and peace of God.

Heavenly Father, we want more of You and less of the world. Lord, we are battling our flesh each day. It is a daily, difficult battle, but we know that You offer us hope and new life. We know that You alone can help us to overcome. We cling to You. We need You. Empower us to face today. May You be glorified in all we say and do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!