Thursday. March 20, 2025

Welcome to The Smart Edit newsletter

Get behind me, Self!

At The Smart Edit, we’re all about diving into the ways of Jesus—what it truly means to know Him and be shaped by Him as his apprentices. One of the most transformative things He does in our lives is address our old nature. But here’s the thing: we’re not passive in this process. We have a part to play.

Christians talk a lot about spiritual attack—Satan trying to throw us off course, mess with our plans, or keep us from walking in God’s will.

But have you considered that some of our biggest battles don’t come from Satan, at least in a direct way?

The Bible names two other enemies that are just as dangerous: the world and the flesh.

See 1 John 2.15-17 and Ephesians 2.1-3.

The world pulls at us with its false promises—security in “success”, worth in approval, and temporary pleasures.

And the flesh? That’s the old self, always whispering for us to chase selfishness and indulge in sin. We put our desires above God’s.

Ah, the old nature, the flesh … this is what we may want to prioritize. 😬

👿 The devil made me do it!

And here’s the tricky part: these influences are so subtle that we don’t always see them for what they are.

Instead, we assume that every setback—a delayed flight, an impossible coworker, a rough season—is some kind of demonic attack.

But what if the real battle is in the mirror? James 1:14 spells it out: “Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.”

Yes, Satan tempts. But he also wins when we put all our focus on rebuking him while ignoring our own responsibility—dying to the flesh and resisting the pull of the world.

The good news? Christ has already won the battle on every front:

➡️ The world is passing away, and Christ has overcome it—”Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

➡️ The Devil, already defeated at the Cross, flees as we resist—”So give yourselves completely to God. Stand against the devil, and the devil will run from you” (James 4:7 NCV). So maybe the real enemy isn’t always the devil—it’s that old nature we must deal with.

➡️ The flesh has been de-powered (Romans 6.6) and can be put to death daily through the power of the Spirit—”So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you” (Colossians 3:5 NLT).

We quest to be more deeply conformed to Christ. In him, we have everything we need to live victoriously.

Father, I praise You for overcoming my old nature through the cross of Your Son, Jesus Christ. You’ve stripped the power of my flesh. Today, I choose to live by Your Word and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Let my new identity in Christ rise to the forefront in all I do. Holy Spirit, continue to teach me and guide me in this truth. Thank You. Amen.

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Appreciate you.

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Best,
Brian Del Turco