“If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them. I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you,” declares the Lord. “I will save you from the hands of the wicked and deliver you from the grasp of the cruel.” (Jeremiah 15:19-21)
What sin are you STILL clinging to? What idol are you hesitating to sacrifice upon God's altar? We all have jeopardous strongholds, folks. You know it. I know it. Satin knows it. God knows it. And yet, here we are - camouflaging our defiance. Here we are - quietly excusing bad behavior. Here we are - willfully hindering spiritual growth and stalling our own prayer life. And for what?
Because we want something else more than we want to be intimate with God.
Oooo. That hurts to admit out loud, doesn't it?
We want our secret stashes of sexy.
We want our questionable content.
We want our fatty, flavorful fun houses of gluttony and greed.
We want our covetous cravings.
We want our corrupted lusts and appetites to be fed... stuffed... gorged.
Sure, we "say" we want Jesus to save us and abide with us. We claim He is our only Master and King. But what aren't we saying? What aren't we exposing into the light? What aren't we honestly admitting, repenting, surrendering to His authority. What sin are we STILL clinging to?
Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. (Jonah 2:18)
If Christ exposed His presence today in physical form and drew back THAT curtain of our lives, where would our hearts be facing? Would we be seen faithfully pointed toward the Holiness of Heaven's Throne Room, or would we more resemble the lost boys in Pinocchio's tale, slowly turning ourselves into jackasses because we wanted to follow the crooked Coachman to the counterfeit amusements of Pleasure Island?
We want our questionable content.
We want our fatty, flavorful fun houses of gluttony and greed.
We want our covetous cravings.
We want our corrupted lusts and appetites to be fed... stuffed... gorged.
Sure, we "say" we want Jesus to save us and abide with us. We claim He is our only Master and King. But what aren't we saying? What aren't we exposing into the light? What aren't we honestly admitting, repenting, surrendering to His authority. What sin are we STILL clinging to?
Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. (Jonah 2:18)
If Christ exposed His presence today in physical form and drew back THAT curtain of our lives, where would our hearts be facing? Would we be seen faithfully pointed toward the Holiness of Heaven's Throne Room, or would we more resemble the lost boys in Pinocchio's tale, slowly turning ourselves into jackasses because we wanted to follow the crooked Coachman to the counterfeit amusements of Pleasure Island?
What sin are you STILL clinging to? What idol are you hesitating to sacrifice upon God's altar? What unhealthy resistance to The Way, The Truth, The Life are you hiding in silent shame and/or selfish revolt? What half-hearted apology or reasoning have you whispered internally to excuse said rebellion? Are you following The Way? Are you in agreement with The Truth? Are you living His Life... or yours?
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." ( John 14:6)
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)
Friends, the Lord is a fortified tower. He can deliver you. He is able to overcome EVERY stronghold you hide. He is gracious and willing to lovingly guide you into full and complete victory while readjusting your palette towards His righteousness. Most importantly, The Lord is good. He does not want to discredit or abuse you. His covenant does not promise to deceive or destroy you into a devastated slave. Rather His NEW Life is the healthiest solution and intended for your absolute benefit.
The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10)
Do not continue to willingly fall into the enemy's trappings. There is nothing that is more important than your intimacy with God. If you are STILL clinging to a particular sin, surrender. You cannot ignore your sin if you want to get close to God. None of us can.
We must willingly subscribe to His Way. We must faithfully believe and follow His Truth. We must transparently, honestly, and obediently live His Life as He commands. Stop prostituting your attention and time. Stop snaring yourself in Satan's flesh-feeding traps. Acknowledge your sin immediately. Repent now. Turn to Jesus THIS day! Do not be distracted to your left or right... do not focus on the sin and fake pleasures that others tout. Surrender your heart and mind to the Lord. Make Him alone your only stronghold.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2)
What is keeping you from complete intimacy with God?
I encourage you to surrender... let IT die so that you may LIVE!
Friends, God will forgive you and is ready to help you overcome every sinful stronghold.
But you must acknowledge that the battle exists.
You must announce complete war against every lingering sin.
You must die in order to live forever blessed in Christ Jesus.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Where sin increased, (God's) grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:20b-21)
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)
Blessings!
~Victoria
© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." ( John 14:6)
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)
Friends, the Lord is a fortified tower. He can deliver you. He is able to overcome EVERY stronghold you hide. He is gracious and willing to lovingly guide you into full and complete victory while readjusting your palette towards His righteousness. Most importantly, The Lord is good. He does not want to discredit or abuse you. His covenant does not promise to deceive or destroy you into a devastated slave. Rather His NEW Life is the healthiest solution and intended for your absolute benefit.
The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10)
Do not continue to willingly fall into the enemy's trappings. There is nothing that is more important than your intimacy with God. If you are STILL clinging to a particular sin, surrender. You cannot ignore your sin if you want to get close to God. None of us can.
We must willingly subscribe to His Way. We must faithfully believe and follow His Truth. We must transparently, honestly, and obediently live His Life as He commands. Stop prostituting your attention and time. Stop snaring yourself in Satan's flesh-feeding traps. Acknowledge your sin immediately. Repent now. Turn to Jesus THIS day! Do not be distracted to your left or right... do not focus on the sin and fake pleasures that others tout. Surrender your heart and mind to the Lord. Make Him alone your only stronghold.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2)
What is keeping you from complete intimacy with God?
I encourage you to surrender... let IT die so that you may LIVE!
Friends, God will forgive you and is ready to help you overcome every sinful stronghold.
But you must acknowledge that the battle exists.
You must announce complete war against every lingering sin.
You must die in order to live forever blessed in Christ Jesus.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Where sin increased, (God's) grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:20b-21)
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)
Blessings!
~Victoria
© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson
You always make things so easy to understand. I get to angry at myself for eating the "wrong things". I know that God forgives, but I cannot keep doing harm to Gods' Temple. I get angry and feel so guilty with my own self.
ReplyDeleteI get so upset with myself when I do not complete tasks around the house all of the time. God allowed me to have this home and here I go and do it again.
Ok....since I just found your blog today...this is going to be a big help Dovoted Woman.
Thank you so much for the help!