We can live HOLY. It’s not bondage… It’s FREEDOM. ??
When we get rid of all these little compromises in our lives, it makes room for TRUE liberties. –For true pleasures, and for a true fulfillment.
At first you could be tempted to think, “I CAN’T get rid of THAT!” But when you put forth the effort to believe and then you do it, your mind is freed not only from that bondage, but from the FEAR of not being able to get on top of it. You’re freed from that feeling of impossibility that kept you tied down. Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mk 10:27)
This has happened to me with many compromises over the years: porn, drinking, smoking pot, even smoking cigarettes and cigars.
I got offended by some Church politics and practices at one point, and after leaving that congregation, I fell into BAD COMPANY, with people who constantly spoke out their anger, their hurt, their hatred, and I started taking in their GARBAGE and I ALSO became very BITTER. And, from morning to night, my thoughts were ONLY of frustration, anger, mistrust and I became a “pissed off” person.
I had been a fairly positive person my whole life, and here I was now being offended from morning to night, and I couldn’t shake it. It was definitely an EVIL spirit freely let in!..by me! It nearly ruined me for the Lord. Compromises are but a tiny doorway to a HUGE HELL.
Apparently addictions have something to do with the fact that one feels REJECTED, and therefore goes into these moments of isolation where he/she can retreat into that self pity and “enjoy myself” mode.
Bitterness and unforgiveness have a way of justifying the feeling of being misunderstood, and wounded and therefore you “cocoon” yourself in that hurt, and feel justified in your compromises.
Along the way, I discovered that FASTING was a great remedy to help get rid of addictions. Especially when I didn’t ONLY stop EATING, but I also fasted those COMPROMISES in my life as well.
The greater purpose of FASTING in Bible days, was to HUMBLE oneself before God… And by doing so, you end up in a position to recognize your sins, and confess them and repent, and come clean.
Caroline Leaf, the Christian neuroscientist who explains how the brain works, says in her book “Switch on Your Brain” that you can get rid of ANY BAD habit in less than 2 months. And the way to do it is by replacing the temptation with praise and with affirmations of the Word of God upon YOUR life.
In other words, when you’re tempted to go for that six pack, you take a few minutes in your car beforehand, and say, “God has freed me…, I am no longer… I can do all things…, I love you so much for delivering me from the shackles of this world…”, Etc.
She says that praising God and confessing and affirming His Word upon your life 3 times a day for 15 minutes, rebuilds the neurons in your mind, and consequently changes a bad habit into a strong new habit.
My wife, Linda, and I have compiled a number of PROCLAMATIONS that we SPEAK OUT every so often, especially during our daily communion, not only to CEMENT what we believe, but to project our voice, –that atomic power of OUR WORDS– that supersedes time and space and throws out seeds which we will continue to HARVEST as we go along. What a rush…. ?
We are firm believers in the POWER of proclamations. They help renew your mind and cement your victories…??
Check out this verse. “Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths.The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.” (Proverbs 5:20-23)
The Holy Spirit actually gives us SELF CONTROL and the ability to choose to SAY NO to things of this world. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control: against such there is no law.” (Gal 5:22,23)
HALLELUJAH. Again, we’ve got the tools to win…. Let’s keep WINNING
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“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” (Pro 25:28)
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col 3:5)
“No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” (Tim 2:4)
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (Ja 4:4)