I don’t think any of us would consciously want our will over God’s. It is the subtle insidious pull of the flesh. That is why it is called a temptation, or a lure.

We have to remember that according to Ephesians 2:3 we lived and conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, “…fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind…” Ephesians 4:18 says that we were alienated from the life of God. We knew nothing else.

Yet, when we accepted the Lord, the Holy Spirit came to dwell in us to lead us into truth that will set us free. Following Him is the path of progressive sanctification. He teaches us to not give in to our flesh by opposing it.

Luke 14:27 says, “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” Bearing our cross is crucifying our flesh. It is putting the temptation to death by submitting our will for His.

Jesus is our example. He was in the garden of Gethsemane. Matthew 26:38 says, “…O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

The temptation to sin lures our flesh with something that we used to indulge in. It is so familiar that we don’t recognize it for what it is. We may play with it in our mind and the pull gets stronger. Yet the Holy Spirit is beckoning us to follow Him. At the moment of the pull, if we will say: Lord, not my willful flesh but Your will is what I want, the power of the pull is instantly broken.

I go back to my earlier illustration. The left and right magnets are opposing one another. The left hand (flesh) turns and submits to the right hand (Holy Spirit) and the fight is over. Why? We counted the cost of forfeiting what God has called us to do. We then took up our cross, crucified our flesh, and followed the leading of the Holy Spirit.