This verse starts with the word “but.” It is contrasting this verse with the previous verse (Romans 13:13). So, instead of the immoral life denounced in the previous verse, we are supposed to live the godly life described in this verse.

The English word “provision” was translated from the Greek word “PRONOIA,” and this Greek word means “forethought, i.e. provident care or supply” (Strong’s Concordance). So, this provision that we are not supposed to make for the desires of the flesh is speaking of thoughts.

All sin starts in our thoughts (James 1:14-15). We cannot be tempted with something that we haven’t thought (Hebrews 11:15).

Paul was using the term “flesh” here as referring to the part of us that has not been changed by Christ; i.e., our sinful appetites and desires (Romans 7:18). These sinful lusts cannot dominate us if we don’t make provision for them. Paul was saying to cut off the flesh’s rations and starve it to death.

Many of us Christians have mistakenly believed that during our lives here on the earth, we are doomed to have ungodly lusts and desires. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. The sin nature that enslaved our flesh is gone, and to the degree that we renew our minds through God’s Word, we can experience victory over the flesh (Romans 5:21).

The reason that the flesh seems so strong in many of our lives is because we are continually feeding it. Temptation is linked to what we think on. If we don’t think on things that engender temptation, we won’t be tempted and won’t sin (Romans 4:19).