When I started the process of putting down the sin of homosexuality about 8 years ago, I expected a miracle cure from sexual bondage and the unwanted sexual attractions that have plagued me for my entire life. I thought GOD would snap HIS fingers and my lust would disappear! As my relationship with The One, True, Living GOD, JESUS CHRIST, blossomed, and my Faith grew, I realized this was going to be a slower process than I'd thought.
I had never realized that I had a problem with pornography in my past, but I have now come to see its power in my life and recognize it as a way the devil can trick me and suck me right into sin, luring me with lust, fantasy, temptation, and sexual sin. I only have to look at the perverted images. Then I start sexualizing others and thinking of them as objects to be lusted after, and eventually, the devil takes me ever further. I begin thinking of horrible things, deep and dark sexual things that disgust me!
GOD is at work in my life, but I have to be also. And I have been waiting to be Free, totally and utterly Free, but that is where I’ve been off track. There are some things that we will not be totally and utterly Free from, The GOoD Word tells us as much. We keep seeking Freedom from those “thorns in our flesh” while HIS Word commands us to Trust HIM and to Obey HIM!
I am going to reiterate one of my longer messages, and include it in this one because when something is so very important then it should not be stated once and then forgotten. I know this is longer than usual, but something that has been on my heart lately, especially after dealing with some attacks and “thorns”. I Pray this message Blesses you. Many of us want to take our issues to the altar and be done with them. Well, sometimes, your issues are just that, yours!
We can be healed of oppression, possession, sickness and all. But what makes us think we can, should or will live free of temptation, struggle or opposition? We will not. And may I suggest that if you are, then you are right where the enemy wants you!
What makes us think that we should not be comparing ourselves to all of the men and women of GOD in Scripture? Paul had a thorn in his side, and while there are a lot of theories on what that was, it doesn’t matter because he said, “I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2Cor. 12:10).
What makes us any different from Paul? Why would we be free from all temptation, struggle and opposition while even the men and women of GOD in The Bible suffered these things? Should we not be Joyful with the struggles that we have because we do know how to control them….. by walking “in The SPIRIT.” (Gal. 5:16).
Can I suggest that we stop focusing on getting rid of our struggles, and that we own them! It is only if we walk in The SPIRIT that we have the Strength to control it. We “cannot do the things that we would” if we allow The HOLY GHOST to guide us and lead us in all that we do.
When temptation and struggle comes, and it is gonna come, then we can be safe, content and secure knowing that we will struggle but we don’t have to struggle with the struggle because we have a Power within us that can bare those burdens and grant us Strength in our weakness to press through, push through, pray through, get through and Breakthrough!!! Make no mistakes, we will suffer, but oh the pleasures of suffering for HIS Sake!
I have fallen short at times in my walk, but GOD keeps picking me up and setting my feet on firmer and higher ground.
I can see growth in my life which I know has come from my JESUS and not from myself. GOD has given me the Courage to face who I truly am. HE is showing me who HE wants me to be and how to become that. Life isn't about me, me, me anymore. It's about dying to self, and coming alive in CHRIST, and I'm learning how to live that way. Thanks be to my LORD, my GOD, JESUS CHRIST!
Thank YOU, JEHOVAH, that YOU set me Free at Calvary and are enabling me to enter into that Freedom daily. Please forgive me when I fall short. Please grant that I will never stop walking the path YOU have laid out for me. And please deliver me from sin and self and teach me to Love rather than lust. Would YOU grant that Love I have for YOU and allow me to have the same for others and may that Love for others dominate my life from this day forth and forever more. I Love YOU JESUS. I Praise & Glorify YOU and I Pray to YOU in YOUR Precious Name. Amen.
Reading Colossians 1:1-14 & Galatians 5 this morning….
I had never realized that I had a problem with pornography in my past, but I have now come to see its power in my life and recognize it as a way the devil can trick me and suck me right into sin, luring me with lust, fantasy, temptation, and sexual sin. I only have to look at the perverted images. Then I start sexualizing others and thinking of them as objects to be lusted after, and eventually, the devil takes me ever further. I begin thinking of horrible things, deep and dark sexual things that disgust me!
GOD is at work in my life, but I have to be also. And I have been waiting to be Free, totally and utterly Free, but that is where I’ve been off track. There are some things that we will not be totally and utterly Free from, The GOoD Word tells us as much. We keep seeking Freedom from those “thorns in our flesh” while HIS Word commands us to Trust HIM and to Obey HIM!
I am going to reiterate one of my longer messages, and include it in this one because when something is so very important then it should not be stated once and then forgotten. I know this is longer than usual, but something that has been on my heart lately, especially after dealing with some attacks and “thorns”. I Pray this message Blesses you. Many of us want to take our issues to the altar and be done with them. Well, sometimes, your issues are just that, yours!
We can be healed of oppression, possession, sickness and all. But what makes us think we can, should or will live free of temptation, struggle or opposition? We will not. And may I suggest that if you are, then you are right where the enemy wants you!
What makes us think that we should not be comparing ourselves to all of the men and women of GOD in Scripture? Paul had a thorn in his side, and while there are a lot of theories on what that was, it doesn’t matter because he said, “I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2Cor. 12:10).
What makes us any different from Paul? Why would we be free from all temptation, struggle and opposition while even the men and women of GOD in The Bible suffered these things? Should we not be Joyful with the struggles that we have because we do know how to control them….. by walking “in The SPIRIT.” (Gal. 5:16).
Can I suggest that we stop focusing on getting rid of our struggles, and that we own them! It is only if we walk in The SPIRIT that we have the Strength to control it. We “cannot do the things that we would” if we allow The HOLY GHOST to guide us and lead us in all that we do.
When temptation and struggle comes, and it is gonna come, then we can be safe, content and secure knowing that we will struggle but we don’t have to struggle with the struggle because we have a Power within us that can bare those burdens and grant us Strength in our weakness to press through, push through, pray through, get through and Breakthrough!!! Make no mistakes, we will suffer, but oh the pleasures of suffering for HIS Sake!
I have fallen short at times in my walk, but GOD keeps picking me up and setting my feet on firmer and higher ground.
I can see growth in my life which I know has come from my JESUS and not from myself. GOD has given me the Courage to face who I truly am. HE is showing me who HE wants me to be and how to become that. Life isn't about me, me, me anymore. It's about dying to self, and coming alive in CHRIST, and I'm learning how to live that way. Thanks be to my LORD, my GOD, JESUS CHRIST!
Thank YOU, JEHOVAH, that YOU set me Free at Calvary and are enabling me to enter into that Freedom daily. Please forgive me when I fall short. Please grant that I will never stop walking the path YOU have laid out for me. And please deliver me from sin and self and teach me to Love rather than lust. Would YOU grant that Love I have for YOU and allow me to have the same for others and may that Love for others dominate my life from this day forth and forever more. I Love YOU JESUS. I Praise & Glorify YOU and I Pray to YOU in YOUR Precious Name. Amen.
Reading Colossians 1:1-14 & Galatians 5 this morning….