💞Encouraging Mondays: Putting to Death the Deeds of the Body

😊👋🏼 Encouraging Mondays

📅 Monday, September 28, 2026

🎯 Theme: Putting to Death the Deeds of the Body



💖😊 Good, Blessed Encouraging Mondays, Family, Friends & New Encouragers!

💛 Opening Scriptures

Romans 8:13 (NLT)

“For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.”

💛 Colossians 3:5 (NLT)

“So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.”

💛 James 4:7 (NLT)

“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

💛 Reflection

Following Jesus does not mean temptation disappears.

Temptation will come.

Even Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, yet He did not sin.

So the presence of temptation does not mean we have failed.

The important question is:

What will we do when temptation comes?

Romans 8:13 gives us an important answer:

“…through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature…”

Notice those words:

Through the power of the Spirit.

God is not asking us to defeat sin through willpower alone.

We need the Holy Spirit.

Putting Sin to Death

When Scripture tells us to “put to death” sinful deeds, it is talking about refusing to continue feeding, practicing, excusing, and making room for what dishonors God.

Sin often begins before anyone else can see it.

A thought we keep entertaining.

Resentment we continue feeding.

Pride we refuse to surrender.

Jealousy we allow to grow.

An offense we keep replaying.

One small compromise that makes the next compromise easier.

What begins quietly can eventually become visible in our words, habits, choices, and relationships.

That is why we should not wait until sin has grown strong before responding.

The Holy Spirit may begin dealing with us much earlier.

He may bring conviction.

Remind us of Scripture.

Make us uncomfortable with something we once ignored.

Prompt us to leave a situation.

Warn us about a conversation.

Lead us to remain silent instead of speaking in anger.

Remind us that we need to forgive.

Or show us that something we keep calling “small” is beginning to have too much room in our lives.

Those moments matter.

Victory Begins With Surrender

James 4:7 says:

“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Notice the order.

First:

Humble yourselves before God.

Then:

Resist the devil.

We sometimes want God to give us victory while we are still determined to have our own way.

But surrender comes first.

Humility says:

“LORD, Your way is better than mine.”

“Your Word is the standard.”

“I do not want to defend what You are telling me to release.”

“I need Your strength more than I need my own way.”

Then we resist.

We say no to what is trying to pull us away from God.

We leave when we need to leave.

We stop the conversation.

We change the environment.

We tell the truth.

We refuse the compromise.

We ask another believer to Pray with us.

We choose obedience.

Resistance is not passive.

Sometimes it requires action.

Catch It Early

Sin rarely becomes a strong pattern in one moment.

Often there were earlier warnings.

Before harsh words, there may have been anger we kept feeding.

Before bitterness, there may have been an offense we repeatedly replayed.

Before dishonesty became a pattern, there may have been one lie we decided was easier than telling the truth.

Before sexual sin, there may have been thoughts, conversations, images, or situations that we knew were moving us in the wrong direction.

Before greed takes over, there may have been constant comparison and dissatisfaction with what God has already provided.

This is one reason learning to recognize the Holy Spirit’s prompting matters.

The earlier we respond, the less room we give temptation to grow.

We do not have to wait until we are overwhelmed before we obey.

The Holy Spirit Is Our Helper

Walking in the Spirit does not mean that we never struggle.

It means we do not struggle alone.

The Holy Spirit reminds us of truth.

He convicts us.

He strengthens us.

He directs us.

He helps us recognize when something is moving us away from God.

And 1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us that God provides a way of escape when temptation comes.

Sometimes that way of escape is very practical.

Leave.

Turn it off.

Put the phone down.

Change the subject.

Do not send the message.

Walk away.

Call someone trustworthy.

Pray before responding.

Go somewhere else.

Open the Bible.

Do what you already know is right.

We can make temptation more difficult to resist when we remain close to the very thing that keeps pulling us toward sin.

Wisdom sometimes means creating distance before the temptation becomes stronger.

Conviction Is an Invitation to Change

The Holy Spirit reveals sin because God loves us.

Conviction is not God saying:

“You are hopeless.”

It is God bringing something into the light so that it can be confessed, surrendered, and changed.

When He shows us something, we do not have to hide.

We can come to Him.

Confess.

Repent.

Receive forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

And move forward differently.

God already knows what is in our hearts.

We are not surprising Him when we admit that we are struggling.

Spiritual growth requires us to be willing to say:

“LORD, this is an area where I need You.”

“I have been making excuses for this.”

“I know this does not honor You.”

“I do not want this controlling me.”

“May You strengthen me to choose differently.”

Transformation From the Inside Out

God is interested in more than temporary behavior changes.

He cares about the heart.

Because what is happening inside eventually affects what happens outside.

As the Holy Spirit transforms our hearts, our responses begin changing.

Our words begin changing.

Our attitudes begin changing.

Our habits begin changing.

Our relationships begin changing.

Our desires begin changing.

This is ongoing work.

Sometimes daily.

Sometimes moment by moment.

And every time we surrender and obey, we are learning more deeply what it means to walk in the Spirit instead of allowing our sinful nature to direct us.

We are not depending upon ourselves for victory.

Our confidence is in Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit working within us.

🙏🏼 Today’s Prayer

Precious LORD,

Thank You for the victory Jesus Christ has already secured for us.

Thank You that temptation does not have to control our choices and that we do not face spiritual battles alone.

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for being our Helper and for lovingly revealing attitudes, thoughts, desires, and behaviors that do not honor You.

May You make us sensitive to Your conviction before small compromises become stronger patterns.

May You teach us to respond quickly when You warn, redirect, correct, or remind us of Your Word.

God the Father, thank You for receiving us when we come before You in humility, confession, and repentance.

May we surrender our own way and remain willing to follow Yours.

Jesus Christ, God the Son, thank You for forgiveness, grace, mercy, and the new life we have through You.

When temptation comes, may You remind us that we have a way of escape.

May we have wisdom to walk away, remain silent, change direction, seek Prayer, open Your Word, or take whatever faithful step is needed.

Thank You for transforming us from the inside out.

May our thoughts, attitudes, words, habits, desires, and choices increasingly reflect the life of Christ within us.

May we continue learning to walk in the Spirit, resist what pulls us away from You, and choose what honors You.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

💛 Reflection Questions

What temptation, attitude, or pattern tends to require the most attention in my life?

What warning signs usually appear before I make a choice I later regret?

Am I responding to the Holy Spirit early, or waiting until the struggle becomes stronger?

💛 Living It Out

This week, pay attention to the beginning of temptation rather than only the final decision.

Notice what usually comes first.

A thought?

A feeling?

A conversation?

A certain environment?

A particular person?

Something you see online?

Anger?

Loneliness?

Stress?

Comparison?

Once you recognize an early warning sign, decide on one practical response.

You may need to:

walk away,

turn something off,

change the conversation,

put your phone down,

open Scripture,

Pray,

call a trustworthy Christian friend,

or remove yourself from a situation.

Do not wait until temptation reaches its strongest point before looking for a way out.

Ask the Holy Spirit to make you sensitive to His direction at the beginning.

Then respond when He leads.

🍎 Temple Care

Our physical condition can affect how we respond to pressure and temptation.

When we are exhausted, hungry, overwhelmed, stressed, or emotionally drained, wise decisions can become harder.

Temple Care does not replace Prayer, Scripture, or dependence upon the Holy Spirit.

But caring for the body God has entrusted to us can support clearer thinking and healthier responses.

Pay attention to what your body may need.

Rest.

Water.

Nourishing food.

Movement.

Quiet.

A break from constant stimulation.

Appropriate support.

Sometimes stepping away for a few minutes gives us the opportunity to slow down before making an emotional decision.

Care for your body.

Guard your mind.

Pay attention to your emotions.

And bring all of it before God.

💛 Encouragement for Today

Do not become discouraged because you are still tempted.

Temptation is not proof that God has abandoned you.

The battle itself does not mean you have lost.

When temptation comes, remember who is with you.

The Holy Spirit is our Helper.

God’s Word is still true.

Jesus Christ has already won the victory.

And when we stumble, we can run toward God rather than away from Him.

His grace is greater than our failures.

His mercy is still available.

Repentance is still possible.

Growth is still possible.

A different choice is still possible.

Do not feed what God is telling you to put to death.

Respond early.

Stay surrendered.

Use the way of escape God provides.

And keep walking in the Spirit.

💛 Today’s Proclamation

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, I will resist what pulls me away from God.

I will respond to conviction.

I will choose obedience.

I will use the way of escape God provides.

I will not depend upon willpower alone.

Jesus Christ has given me victory, and I will continue learning to walk in the Spirit.

💞Much love for you all!

😊💖Have a Blessed, Safe, Wonderful Day, Week, and Life!