Let It Go - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) August 25, 2023
Most of us are doing things that hamper our prayers. We're watching things, listening to things, and pondering on things that are detestable to God. Then we wonder why our prayers aren't being answered.
Now if we didn't know better then that would be somewhat of an excuse. However, we do know better and yet we continue to let our flesh rule over us, causing us to ignore doing what we know God likes while doing the opposite.
We have to make a sacrifice and put the desires of our flesh into submission so that the desires of God can flourish in us. We have to choose to not watch pδrn and not listen to highly suggestive songs that trigger the flesh to want certain things such as fornication, drug consumption and more.
We have to choose to not indulge in that content that causes us to criticize, gossip and/or use crass and foul language. We have to not buy that snack that always leads us to overindulge and thus not treat the temple of God, that is our body, well.
The truth is, it is hard to quiet our flesh. Even Paul, one of the great apostles of Christ, admitted to this in Romans 7:15 - I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. Sound familiar? I confess that this describes me more often than I care to admit.
If you feel the same, then thank God for His grace. He sent Jesus to die that we may each be unshackled from the chains of sin, guilt and shame. Through Him we can live free from the activities, ideas, and other things in this world that want to keep us from living for the Lord.
Let us each step into the cocoon of God's grace and undying mercy. Know that He has the power to set us free of ungodly behavioral cycles. Ask God for forgiveness for the things you do but quickly don't feel good about. Those things you do regularly or irregularly that leave you not feeling happy about yourself. The behaviors you regret because you know or suspect God doesn't approve of.
God loves you and will forgive if you genuinely repent. And when you ask Him for help to get free of these behaviors, He will arise to do just that. Of course, the enemy of your soul - satan - will do everything to keep you bound and make freedom seem like it's more trouble than it's worth. But remember that satan is a liar and that God is faithful. If you take it one day at a time, trusting God to get you through, that's exactly what He will do.
So what are the things you do that you know don't please the Lord? What are the things you're not certain about? Let's talk about these things and stand on the rock that is Christ to get free and enjoy the fullness of life that God said is our portion.
God bless you and see you at noon for fellowship.
Please consider reading the following old posts:
Please remember to think about the things in your life that need to go per today's message. It can be a lot of things but if you said the prayer in the Redux message then trust God to help you knock them out.
From personal experience, the Lord took the use of foul language away instantly. It was a miracle as I used to speak much worse than sailors. He took the need to spend time at gossip websites and blogs away instantly as well.
Some other things were more gradual - the capacity to out-petty any opposition as if it was sport? Yup, that was me. Remember that post from Tuesday - Thou Shalt Not Be Petty? I lived…
ALTAR CALL
Jesus died on the cross to create an avenue for sinners to make it to heaven. This is because the Bible is clear that sinners will have no place in God's kingdom. And so Jesus took on the sin of the world so that everyone who would accept Him as their Lord and Savior can be justified as if they never sinned. What a great gift to us sinners who in one way or another have rebelled against God. Jesus died so we could be forgiven! I'd like to invite you to become born again in Jesus Christ today. We are told in John 14:6 - Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes…
REDUX
Today's message is a reminder to get right with God and let go of the behaviors that seek to create distance between us and Him.
Is it anger that's the issue? Unforgiveness? What about occult and new age practices? It could be gossip, lies or slander. Or, there could be xesual things you have no business doing such as having xes prior to marriage, consuming pornographic materials or strongly suggestive content designed to heighten certain desires and ideas.
Each of us has a clue of something we need to let go of in order to obey the Lord and be free of behavioral patterns that trigger guilt and shame. None of which the Lord wants for us.
It could…