Encouragement

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What would you do if you knew you wouldn’t get caught? Better yet, what would you do if you knew that you would suffer no consequences whatsoever? Go ahead, be completely and ridiculously honest. You don’t have to answer to anyone but you. Got it? Good. Now, really think about whatever your thing is. Have you ever stopped to wonder why you’re even drawn to something like that? Why it keeps crossing your mind? Why is seems so appealing? I know exactly what I’d do, and quite frankly, I’d never tell anyone ever! But guess what? I don’t feel bad or ashamed or embarrassed by it. I know that I’m comprised of two parts: flesh and spirit. They constantly war against each other. (And not to alarm you, but you should be fully aware that it is a fight to the death!) Still I wondered, of all the many things my flesh could long to see fulfilled, why this particular thing? As a Christian in a growing relationship with God, I know that it is entirely out of the question and I pray repentance and forgiveness at even the thought of it. But yet and still the issue taunts me; it actually seems to pick on me! I didn’t understand it and it was starting to make me annoyed and angry. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like having to go to God to ask for forgiveness or even help with the same struggle over and over again. But He’s so faithful and wise and never tires of me. He even tells me to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking. In doing this, I find my prayers constantly filled with repentance for sins and requests to receive the desires of my heart according to His promises.

I thought back to the “war going on in my members”. I pondered again my plaguing issue. Then I thought of the very nature of Satan. He is a thief, a murderer, and a liar. He wants to keep me from all that God has for me and seeks to kill me in the process. While God is the Creator, he is nothing more than a cheap counterfeit and perverts all things good. I considered yet again the cadence of my prayers: Repentance of Sins and The Desires of My Heart…

“This is the war“, I realized. Though I had not actualized the lusts of my flesh in full potential, I’d opened the door with just my thoughts. And as I am brutally honest with myself, I see where I’ve made steps toward the fulfillment of these desires. I feel just as schizophrenic as Apostle Paul. “Why am I even doing this? Especially when I know what my heart’s desire is? It’s like a blatant contradiction?” Then I recalled a scripture that I was all too familiar with.

Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lusts of your flesh.

My issue gains strength when I’m not walking in the spirit; and in those moments, I tend to get the desires of my heart confused with the lusts of my flesh. When my carnal man gets the upper hand in battle, my vision gets obscured and I even begin to justify my wrong doings. This is exactly what Satan wants. To get me to fall for a knockoff of the real merchandise God wants to give me. God delights in giving me my heart’s desires. He actually planted the desires there. They are all a part of His perfect will for me. But obtaining them in their fullness would bring glory to God, thus being a mighty blow to the kingdom of darkness.

Think back once more to whatever your issue is. (I must remind you: BE HONEST! It won’t benefit you if you‘re not!) Now think on your heart’s truest desire. I’d be willing to bet that you could find some similarities within the two. That’s why your thing is specific to you. That’s why it picks on you. It’s a strategic attack against your purpose in the Kingdom of God. Remember, Satan won’t tempt you with what you don’t want. It would be a waste of his time and truly his days are numbered. The war is on and he’s going right in for the kill. The contenders are Genuine vs. Counterfeit, The Desire’s of Your Heart vs. The Lusts of Your Flesh, God’s Will vs. Satan’s Way, Perfection vs. Perversion. Don’t get discouraged or dismayed when that thought or issue comes to tempt you again. It just means that you’re still in the fight. Thanks be to God who always gives us the victory in Christ Jesus!


Reference Scriptures:

Matthew 7:7-11
John 10:10
Romans 7:14-25
Galatians 5:16-26
Psalm 37:4
2 Corinthians 2:14

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