Pastor Randy’s
devotional:
Therefore,
since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside
every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance
the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1-2
January 11th Prayer:
January 11th Prayer:
Gracious
Father, You sent Jesus to die for me. I know His blood provides forgiveness for
my sin. I want to be free from the bondage to sin. The same old patterns and
familiar temptations have weighed me down for too long. I am asking for help!
Help me Holy Spirit! Show me the doors I’ve opened in my life to allow this
pattern. Show me how to repent. I know I can walk in behavioral holiness in
this area and I am opening to Your power and guidance to help me stand fast in the
freedom You’ve provided. I pray this in Jesus’ name!
(Name the area you fall to—the sin that seems to hang around and trip you up most often. You can overcome this and walk in victory. However, it won’t be by willpower alone. You must have the help of others and the Holy Spirit.)
(Name the area you fall to—the sin that seems to hang around and trip you up most often. You can overcome this and walk in victory. However, it won’t be by willpower alone. You must have the help of others and the Holy Spirit.)
My thoughts:
Also see my thoughts from Wednesday on recurring sin.
We are all continuously influenced by good and evil decisions. Think about it. You face decisions all day long. What is it you rely on to make an intelligent choice for these decisions? Your intellect, the information available to you at the time, previous outcomes from similar decisions, family or friends advice, feelings, emotions and desires. These are the things which will influence your decisions in life.
What constitutes a sinful decision?
When the outcome of a decision results in an action that contradicts the principles and beliefs established by God the father. There is no formal list, but we have the foundation of the 10 Commandments in scripture as we discussed in earlier posts. For all time, God has demonstrated the repercussions of going against His commandments, and let’s face it, none of them are appealing. We all enjoy the temporary pleasure, the worldly satisfaction often associated with a sinful act. But it’s just that – temporary, associated with this life only, regardless of one’s lifespan it will end one day.
One of the reasons many people resist Jesus Christ, and a commitment toward His calling on their life, is because of these desires, these habits, these temporary pleasurable activities in life. We become addicted to sin, just like addiction to a drug or alcohol. We find ways to justify it, to cover it up as if it isn’t as bad as it is; rather than deal with addressing it, changing and turning away.
Repentance is just that, turning away from that action that separates us from God the Father. Often times, the desire is so strong and the cover up is so deep that we would rather live with the sin, rather than truly repent and turn from it. Some will look at the opportunity of following Jesus Christ and choose not to because they would rather continue living in their sin. They may even acknowledge His existence, recognize that He walked the earth and believe that He did incredible miracles when He walked the earth. But, they won’t go that next step and acknowledge that He is the son of God and Savior of the world, because they realize by doing so would require a change in their lifestyle that they are not willing to accept. Therefore, they deny His deity, and in many cases they deny the entire eternal concept all together and put all of their faith in themselves and those of this world.
What they don’t realize is that by accepting that Jesus Christ is the son of God, died for them, and rose again on the third day; they can actually discover the strength to overcome these addictions in their lives. For man alone is not powerful in mind, or will, to overcome these things on their own, but the Lord is and with an authentic faith in Jesus Christ we are made capable. Their acceptance that this is who they are, that they cannot change, that their actions are unchangeable is a fallacy presented by the evil one, Satan himself. Satan uses our desires, our pride, our addictions against us. It is his stronghold on our lives and we have only the power and authority of Jesus Christ at our disposal to stand against it. There is no straight jacket discipline that will supernaturally enable you to overcome this evil.
Mankind was designed to love and worship the Lord. That’s it. That’s our only purpose for being created. The sins of this world are those things that stand between He and us, and draw us away from this purpose. Choose this day to trust in the Lord and lean on His understanding and not your own. Repent and turn from your sinful actions and pray for the Lord to give you the strength to stand firm in your faith. The choice does belong to you and only you.
Also see my thoughts from Wednesday on recurring sin.
We are all continuously influenced by good and evil decisions. Think about it. You face decisions all day long. What is it you rely on to make an intelligent choice for these decisions? Your intellect, the information available to you at the time, previous outcomes from similar decisions, family or friends advice, feelings, emotions and desires. These are the things which will influence your decisions in life.
What constitutes a sinful decision?
When the outcome of a decision results in an action that contradicts the principles and beliefs established by God the father. There is no formal list, but we have the foundation of the 10 Commandments in scripture as we discussed in earlier posts. For all time, God has demonstrated the repercussions of going against His commandments, and let’s face it, none of them are appealing. We all enjoy the temporary pleasure, the worldly satisfaction often associated with a sinful act. But it’s just that – temporary, associated with this life only, regardless of one’s lifespan it will end one day.
One of the reasons many people resist Jesus Christ, and a commitment toward His calling on their life, is because of these desires, these habits, these temporary pleasurable activities in life. We become addicted to sin, just like addiction to a drug or alcohol. We find ways to justify it, to cover it up as if it isn’t as bad as it is; rather than deal with addressing it, changing and turning away.
Repentance is just that, turning away from that action that separates us from God the Father. Often times, the desire is so strong and the cover up is so deep that we would rather live with the sin, rather than truly repent and turn from it. Some will look at the opportunity of following Jesus Christ and choose not to because they would rather continue living in their sin. They may even acknowledge His existence, recognize that He walked the earth and believe that He did incredible miracles when He walked the earth. But, they won’t go that next step and acknowledge that He is the son of God and Savior of the world, because they realize by doing so would require a change in their lifestyle that they are not willing to accept. Therefore, they deny His deity, and in many cases they deny the entire eternal concept all together and put all of their faith in themselves and those of this world.
What they don’t realize is that by accepting that Jesus Christ is the son of God, died for them, and rose again on the third day; they can actually discover the strength to overcome these addictions in their lives. For man alone is not powerful in mind, or will, to overcome these things on their own, but the Lord is and with an authentic faith in Jesus Christ we are made capable. Their acceptance that this is who they are, that they cannot change, that their actions are unchangeable is a fallacy presented by the evil one, Satan himself. Satan uses our desires, our pride, our addictions against us. It is his stronghold on our lives and we have only the power and authority of Jesus Christ at our disposal to stand against it. There is no straight jacket discipline that will supernaturally enable you to overcome this evil.
Mankind was designed to love and worship the Lord. That’s it. That’s our only purpose for being created. The sins of this world are those things that stand between He and us, and draw us away from this purpose. Choose this day to trust in the Lord and lean on His understanding and not your own. Repent and turn from your sinful actions and pray for the Lord to give you the strength to stand firm in your faith. The choice does belong to you and only you.
Be Blessed,
Rich
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