When I first came to the Lord at age 19 I remember asking the Lord to restore my heart and mind as I was laying hands on myself in the place of prayer. Knowing that I had come out of a lot of stuff in the world I knew that I needed a refreshing and renewing of my soul in every way.
Do You Recognize Temptation?
Have you ever been tempted? Of course you have. We can all be tempted in many ways. You can be tempted to do so many things that are outside the sphere of God’s plan for your life. Outside of the most obvious of sins – you may be tempted to complain, to hate, to be rude or many other things.
“…nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
1 Corinthians 10:9-10
You can break the cycle and create new habits by living after the new creation – the new nature God has given you.
Inspired by God
One of the foundations stones that was laid in my heart from the very beginning was understanding the absolute authority of the Word of God. I realized that the Bible was not just any other book but totally inspired by God. Back in the house I grew up in there was an old gigantic annotated Bible with lots of dust on it. It was like the ancient scroll to me. Every once in a while I would go down into the dark depths of our basement to take a look.
It is crucial for those who are followers of Jesus Christ to believe in the absolute authority of God’s Word – if not then anyone can write their own Bible. Many, unknowingly and some purposefully are doing just that. The Word of God is sacred holy writ and should be revered as such.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Magnified Above His Name
The truth is the Bible is the most reliable document with the most accurate historical record, with the most copies, of any book – beyond any comparison of anything that has ever been written.
We’ve heard it said that a person is only as good as their word.
I will worship toward Your holy temple,
Psalms 138:2
And praise Your name
For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
God has set His Word above His Name. We serve a covenant God that keeps His Word. If God says it that settles it. You can count on it and take it to the bank to cash in. His Word is good just as He is good.
The Power of Commitment
God is committed to us. Commitment is hard to find these days. It is easy to find people who break their commitments. We live in a world where people don’t keep their word. When you commit to something you should be keeping that commitment. It is a reflection on your character or the lack of it.
Are you dependable? God is. God’s desire is for us to walk after His image and likeness.
There are times when you change your mind about some things. There are big commitments and small commitments just as there are big choices and small choices. The key is to remember that a commitment is a commitment.
If you have to break your commitment at least have the decency to communicate that you “won’t be able to make it” or whatever the case may be. Everyone can take 30 seconds with today’s technology to communicate. Be on time. Be prompt. Be of an excellent spirit. Be uncommon.
When you read the Word of God it encourages you and transforms you as you spend time with God. Allow His Word to be Your standard in life.
Breaking the Cycle
How do you break out of the cycle of sin and the flesh or even combat the temptations in this life? Jesus set the example for us. When He was tempted in the desert He used The Word of God – it is the sword of the Spirit. Then the tempter had to leave.
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
To break the cycle of sin you have to recognize you are being tempted. If you never recognize it then you will never resist. Once you see sin for what it is then you can take captive those thoughts – bringing them into submission to the Word of God. You can break the cycle and create new habits by living as the new creation. In Christ all things have become new but you still have to choose to put on the new man.
Today realize that the Word of God is absolute and inspired by the Holy Spirit. Hide His Word in your heart, tend to your communion with God and use His truth as a weapon that will ultimately bring transformation to your life.