And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24

Holy Father,

We confess, we are often bewildered 

by our ongoing struggle with sin. 

We know that we “have been crucified with Christ. 

It is no longer [we] who live but Christ who lives in us” (Gal. 2:20). 

We know that we still struggle with “the works of the flesh,” 

that is our sinful selfish attitudes and behaviors, 

things like sexual immorality…idolatry…envy…strife…fits of anger…

just to name a few in the long list of Galatians 5:20-21. 

How do we “crucify the flesh,” 

how do we not let “sin reign in our mortal bodies” (Romans 6:12)? 

Only by continuing to “walk in the Spirit,” 

continuing to see our sin nailed to the cross. 

As theologian Philip Ryken explains, 

our sin has a way of climbing off that cross. 

And we have a way of helping it make a “speedy recovery: 

We are sometimes tempted to remove the nails, 

help our old sinful nature down from the cross, 

and nurse it back to health.”* 

In the power of the Spirit, 

and only in the power of the Spirit, 

can we put that sin back on the cross 

and “pound the nails in a little deeper.” 

When we do so, 

we are marked by the fruit of the Spirit, 

the beauty and loveliness of Christ. 

Lord, help us to crucify our sin 

and keep it on the cross.

In Jesus’ powerful name. Amen. 

*See Philip Ryken’s commentary on Galatians.