You can control you. Well, that wouldn't be you directly but the power and the life of Christ in you finding expression from your spirit to your soul. Thereby giving you strength to resist the temptations surging from your old life. Let's start like this:
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20, KJV).
This is Apostles paul's testimony on how the old life and its path don't control or have influence over him. Giving our lives to God and receiving the life of Christ is the great start for a journey, but not enough to keep us going.
The fact that we were saved means that there was a track record of something in our lives. And though, our spirit is saved, there are so many things we must address in our soul to sustain us in the journey and help our growth in Christ.
Today we will be addressing the issue of self-control, concerning addictions—the things we can't do without. The strong inclination to do, use, or indulge in something repeatedly is defined as addiction by Merriam Webster.
We were addicted to some things in our old life, which might not be harmful, but could be too much weight for the race. Some things like watching movies, eating, talking-gossip, etc.
Whatever shape your addiction takes, just know you are not the only one and your own is obvious to just you. You have no idea what other people are struggling with. The fact that they want to stop it is a good sign that they want a change. For a clueless person, who doesn't know if it wrong or right, breaking from it could take a while.
Another thing I'd like to mention before we move on is that addiction doesn't have to always involve external influence, some people are as internally addicted to some things or ideas that can be injurious to the mind just as much as smoking is to the lungs.
To some, it's the obsessions of being accepted or acknowledged — some people call it human validation, and some people are just addicted to a person or a group or class of people that if they are absent for any time, they can fall into depression or any other mind or mental illness.
Whatever your addiction is there is a way out in God. I didn't say therapy or human solutions (which are good and God can use), but I am talking about the power of the Holy Spirit working in you.
So, when you decide to break free from a life pattern or habit, I'd say studying the Word of God is the first thing. Finding out the truth about what is in stock for you and how your freedom is easy and accessible in what Christ has done a long time ago through His life, death, and resurrection and how God had predestined that you have no struggle in that area. Deliberately study and letting the Holy Spirit lead you into the Word of God for that area.
Believe that the Word of God can work wonders in your life. Not one day in the future, but now. The Word is potent enough to work for you at the moment if you will believe.
Sometimes, the thought of a futuristic deliverance or process and pattern can be a lie from the enemy to keep us in a spot and not trust the power of God to deliver us from the mess we are in. There is power enough in God to heal you now, and have a fresh and great start if only you'll believe in His Word. Whoever the word sets free is free indeed!
...Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you (John 8:32; MSG).
The Word of God is the foundation on which everything in God stands.
We'll continue from here next week...
Shalom!
Remember to SHARE with people...
Profound ✅
ReplyDeleteThank you 🤗
DeleteBeautiful
ReplyDeleteThank you and I hope it was helpful
DeleteThis is beautiful, thanks for this...😇😇😇
ReplyDeleteIt's a privilege for me to serve this way...
DeleteI hope it is helpful and thank you for taking out time to go through and share.
😘
So blessed, more grace dear
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, the continuation will be published soon...
DeletePlease take your time to go through it and be blessed 🤗 😘