The Great War

Romans 7:21-23

²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

this scripture is so real to me... as probably it is for most of us! Every true believer, deep down inside, wants to live a life that is pleasing to God, but as this scripture says even after we are born again, our flesh (natural inclinations) continues to be at war with the Spirit of the Lord that resides inside of us...

My Spirit says forgive...

My flesh says hold a grudge & never speak to them again...

My Spirit says demonstrate self-control...

My flesh says girl, eat whatever you want whenever you feel like it...

My Spirit says give that money to someone in need...

My flesh says remember that Gucci purse you wanted? you deserve it, spend it on yourself...

My Spirit says spend some time with the Lord, read His Word, and pray...

My flesh says girl you can do that later Basketball Wives is on...

My Spirit says watch your mouth cause what your about to say is not in love and its unnecessary....

My flesh says keep it real and tell it like it is...

And so it is, this is the war.... Every time I choose to follow my flesh, rather than yielding to the Holy Spirit of God, I allow sin to gain mastery over me. But every time I say YES to the Holy Spirit, I give HIM greater control over my life! 

Have a Blessed Day & REMEMBER, Walk in the Spirit, not in your flesh! =)

Sin Kills

The things that God calls sin, the devil tells us are fun, safe, innocent, desirable, no big deal, meeting our needs, and unavoidable.... The one thing we need to remember is THE DEVIL IS A LIAR!!!! Point Blank!!!

• sin steals joy (Psalms 51:12)
• sin removes confidence (1 John 3:19-21)
• sin brings guilt (Psalms 51:3)
• sin gives satan the upper hand (2 Corinthians 2:9-11)
• sin quenches God's Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19)
• sin brings physical damage (Psalms 38:1-11; 31:10)
• sin causes an ache in the soul (Psalms 32:3-4) 
• sin breaks God's Heart (Ephesians 4:30)
• sin opens the door to other sins (Isaiah 30:1)
• sin breaks fellowship with God (Isaiah 59:1-2)
• sin produces fear (Proverbs 28:1)
• sin makes me its slave (John 8:34; Romans 6:16)

Repentance Invokes Change

More often than not I think that God uses our children to teach us lessons. For instance, I think about this scenario - a child comes home from school, changes clothes, throws dirty clothes on the floor, goes in the kitchen, gets a snack, leaves a mess, skips homework and goes outside to play....
Naturally, we would bring the child in and chastise them on their behavior and let them know that it is unacceptable and there is a better way... Obedience!
The child apologizes and says I'm sorry for leaving my clothes on the floor, I'm sorry for leaving a mess in the kitchen, and I'm sorry for not doing my homework before going out to play.
What do we say?
Your sorry doesn't hold weight if you continue to do it again and again... a repentant heart invokes change... Follow my instructions my son or daughter and I will give you a rest from chastisement...
Likewise it is with our Heavenly Father with us, His children...
We say we don't have time to pray for others, but we pick up the phone and gossip about others for an hour, We don't have time to read the bible, but we make time to go thru emails, texts, and FB posts... We don't feel like going to church on Sunday, but we'll jump at the opportunity to go out with the fellows or clubbin with the girls.
Then God calls us into His presence, either by church / alter call, church TV broadcast, or church radio show, (whatever the means) and we receive chastisement on our behavior, and we are told that it is unacceptable and there is a better way... Obedience!
We say I'm sorry Lord for not making time for You in our lives, not following your instructions, and being disobedient to your Word! But does our sorry hold weight if we continue to live the same way and do the same things? A truly repentant heart invokes CHANGE!
I think about how I feel when my child says sorry and does the same thing again & again. Then, I think, WOW! That's how I make God feel when I apologize for my wrongs and turn around and do them again...
My words mean nothing without the actions to back them up!
God says to us - Follow my instructions my son or daughter and I will give you rest...

Matthew 11:28-30
²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”


(Message Version)
^28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."