It’s all too common to think that we are unworthy of God’s Grace, Mercy, Forgiveness and Love as we step into the boundaries of Christianity. Why? Well for one our spirit knows that we fall short of God’s eternal Glory and the thought of our all powerful all knowing all wonderful Creator standing by our side holding us up and shadowing our every move makes us feel quite insignificant, frightened even! It might even rouse ideas like something from a fiction novel where a cryptic black operations organization somewhere has been watching our every move our entire lives and holds at their fingertips endless means to blackmail us. “Please please! I want to be in control!” We cry out! Our flesh revolts, protests with an attitude worthy of attention. Many of us are compelled to heed it, feed it, and yield to its every beckoning. We’ll do anything to keep it at bay, anything to seemingly bring a few short periods of peace into our lives. "If I just finish this case of beer, if I just buy this toy, if I just sleep with this woman, life will be just “great” for a while." After all, it’s normal right? It’s simply an instinctive part of being human, built into our very core DNA, our organismically evolved structure. We’re hungry, we eat, we’re bored, we play, et cetera et cetera.
This compulsive nature is something that requires a substantial amount of humility to fully grasp. The world in so many ways drives to convince us to fancy our every fleshly whim. To eat, drink and be merry. Unfortunately enough, most of these desires truly are “of the world” and “of the flesh.” Satan knows this and is, in fact, behind it all helping it to grow, deceive and destroy us. Consume consume consume until we ourselves are consumed. God is the only one who can utterly fulfill our desires! Permanently!
This compulsive nature is in no way instinctive. We are led off to the slaughter (quite crudely put) on an un-virtuous path to believe this lie. Attraction (not lust), comfort (not coveting, greed, riches or fame), security (having a purpose and not living only for ourselves) among other things—These are God given instincts, not compulsive gratification. The world simply twists what is natural and adds some appealing desert on top in the form of false morality.
Where am I going with this? Well, I believe in sharing what truths each of us hold. God blesses us and I believe he wishes for us to pass on our blessings by letting others know how on earth we came to be blessed in the first place. How we came to be free from the world and filled with God’s eternal joy!
I wish to share with anyone reading this, steps to conquer and overcome this world. God’s word says “All things are possible to he who believes!” and his word is certainly a force to be reckoned with. It’s immutable, powerful and deals a DEVASTATING blow to the enemy! Evidently enough, the enemy will do anything in his power to cause you to believe otherwise. He’ll fill our heads with doubt quicker than we can spot a bum sheep. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8 Now THAT makes you feel a bit sheepish!? We cannot depend on ourselves though because “ourselves” will disappoint every time guaranteed. “My salvation and my honor depend on God ; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.” – Romans 9:16 It’s paramount to build up our spiritual armor to defend ourselves against the enemy. To do that, we NEED God!
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God!” – Ephesians 6:10-17
We’re aiming for nothing less than 100% victory here!
Don't let satan whisper in your mind and say "DEFEAT SIN!? HAH! Anyone who believes that is a moron! It’s part of being human and therefore impossible!"
Not so! I quote again: Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." –Matthew 19:26
“You’re so unworthy! God will never allow you into his loving arms! “
Don’t believe this Lie! Don’t you think God understands how hard this life can be? He created EVERYTHING! He knows you’ll scratch your nose before you scratch it. He knows the number of hairs on your head! He knows how annoying some of you family members can be more than YOU do! Hah! He doesn’t care how far we have to travel down the wrong road before we turn back! As long as we turn back full heartedly!
"I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: ... For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry." -Luke 15:18-22,24
So, with no further ado:
Step #1 HATE THE SIN! It’s essential that we make this key change in our heart! Many of us cry out to God and plead and pray that we may stop doing wrong but in our hearts we really “don’t” want help. You must wash this out by hating the sin, humbling ourselves before the Lord and giving the control of our lives direction, fully to him!
Step #2 Build up your spiritual fortress! Whatever you struggle with: Cut Off the Source! Our Eyes, Ears and all our other senses fuel the mind, the mind fuels the flesh! “What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' " … “ But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” – Matthew 15:11, 18, 19
Step #3 Take up your armor, sword and shield! Scripture Scripture Scripture! God's word is undefeatable, sharper than any double edged sword! Find a key verse to repeat in your head, say it out loud even! This deals a crushing blow to impure thoughts and temptation! (Example: “I am not my own, I was purchased for a price, I have no right to sin!”)
Step #4 Maintain your fortress! Read the word, Pray! Make it a habit to be mindful of the Lord in all that you do! “…do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21
Godspeed on your journey to victory! Amen Amen Amen! God has faith in you! I do too!
P.S. Interesting note: The official motto of the state of Ohio is “With God, all things are possible.”
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