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John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. |
The devil undoubtedly comes to steal all that is good. Over the years, I have personally seen and experienced much that he has stolen in both my life and in the lives of others. As I continue to grow in my relationship with Christ and in my understanding that we have as co-heirs in Christ, there is a growing passion within me to confront the thief and his lies! I often hear people talk about what the enemy has stolen, and indeed he has stolen much! Perhaps the greatest thing he has stolen is our desire to be accountable and honest with others and ourselves! It's so easy for us to blame him for our bad decisions and I'm convinced that he absolutely loves it when we do! Why are we giving him credit for choices he didn't make? Does he have control over us? (Luke 10:19) Is Christ Jesus that lives in us not greater than He that lives in the world? (1 John 4:4) Are those who the Son set free not truly free indeed? (John 8:36) Does God not always give us a way out and never allow us to be tempted beyond what we can endure? (1 Corinthians 10:13) Well if this is true — AND IT IS! The devil didn't make us do it. We chose to do it! Somewhere along the way we bought into his lies that we didn't have a choice or that it was beyond our control.
For many years of my life I struggled with smoking. I tried to quit over and over again but to no avail. It was exhausting! Looking back, I must have "quit" dozens of times. I would constantly pray, "Lord, I don't want to smoke, please take this from me." I told myself that I hated it and told Him that too. But one day there was the realization that I had been lying to myself and to Him. In reality, I loved smoking! If I didn't want to do it, I wouldn't have. No one made me drive to the store and buy another pack of cigarettes. I chose to do it! In that moment, my eyes were open to the fact that my flesh loved cigarettes. However, His Spirit within me did not. I became aware of the spiritual battle going on within me. This was the same type of battle that Paul spoke about in Romans 7 when he essentially said I hate what I am doing, and I am doing what I hate.
I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate.
Romans 7:15
When I became honest with myself and with God, things began to change. My prayers changed! I no longer prayed, "Father I don't want to smoke." I began to pray something along the lines of, "Jesus I love to smoke! My flesh craves it. Lord, I pray that Your Spirit within me would overcome the desires of my flesh." It didn't happen instantly, but it did happen! The truth will certainly set us free! (John 8:32) To this day, and now years Iater, I couldn't tell you where I smoked my last cigarette. I truly don't remember. However, I can vividly remember dozens of places where in my own efforts I tried. I am convinced that this is because it was in His strength and not my own. God has given us authority over the enemy! It was only after getting tired of being robbed, that I finally decided to stand on my God given authority and claim the victory through Christ that I had already been given.
Father,
Thank You for giving us the authority through Your Son, Jesus Christ, to overcome all the powers of the enemy! Thank You for the victory that You have given us in all of life's storms and struggles! Help us to stand on Your promises and to always walk in Your truth, We love You Lord. Amen.
For many years of my life I struggled with smoking. I tried to quit over and over again but to no avail. It was exhausting! Looking back, I must have "quit" dozens of times. I would constantly pray, "Lord, I don't want to smoke, please take this from me." I told myself that I hated it and told Him that too. But one day there was the realization that I had been lying to myself and to Him. In reality, I loved smoking! If I didn't want to do it, I wouldn't have. No one made me drive to the store and buy another pack of cigarettes. I chose to do it! In that moment, my eyes were open to the fact that my flesh loved cigarettes. However, His Spirit within me did not. I became aware of the spiritual battle going on within me. This was the same type of battle that Paul spoke about in Romans 7 when he essentially said I hate what I am doing, and I am doing what I hate.
I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate.
Romans 7:15
When I became honest with myself and with God, things began to change. My prayers changed! I no longer prayed, "Father I don't want to smoke." I began to pray something along the lines of, "Jesus I love to smoke! My flesh craves it. Lord, I pray that Your Spirit within me would overcome the desires of my flesh." It didn't happen instantly, but it did happen! The truth will certainly set us free! (John 8:32) To this day, and now years Iater, I couldn't tell you where I smoked my last cigarette. I truly don't remember. However, I can vividly remember dozens of places where in my own efforts I tried. I am convinced that this is because it was in His strength and not my own. God has given us authority over the enemy! It was only after getting tired of being robbed, that I finally decided to stand on my God given authority and claim the victory through Christ that I had already been given.
Father,
Thank You for giving us the authority through Your Son, Jesus Christ, to overcome all the powers of the enemy! Thank You for the victory that You have given us in all of life's storms and struggles! Help us to stand on Your promises and to always walk in Your truth, We love You Lord. Amen.
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