Break free

We say we want to “treat” ourselves with an indulgence of something. But is it really a treat if it is harming you? Of course the enemy wants you to want what harms you so whatever that “treat” is will bring you great amounts of pleasure. Temporarily. Then you feel the pain of it.

So, are you really treating yourself by harming yourself? Is it really a celebration if it first feels good but then bad later? Is that really a treat?

The enemy sees you do something good and convinces you to harm yourself as a reward.

Hmmm.

Yet, discipline doesn’t always feel good in the moment but you get to set your eyes on the joy ahead of you.

Therefore, our choices are:

The enemy’s way:

Enjoy a temporary pleasure while dreading what it will do to us later. A punishment disguised as a reward he convinces us that we deserve. All the while becoming more and more weak and enslaved to this cycle of punishment (sin) the longer we stay in it.

Or

God’s way:

Temporary suffering for the joy set before us that is eternal. Joy that we get to hold on to even during suffering. All the while becoming stronger and gaining more freedom from sin the longer we stick with it.

Hebrews 12:2 1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Psalm 124:7
We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.

True help

There are times we can think we are helping an individual or even a whole group of people find freedom when we are actually helping them stay oppressed. Good intentions dont always mean a good outcome. How do we know what kind of help to give? The bible. It takes studying all of God’s word to know how to stand firm in His will and not just cherry picking a verse here and there that will sound like it fits what you are wanting to do. You can go out and do what feels right to you or you can bring God into it and actually see change happen.

Choose Him

I struggled with a event from the Old Testament. I wont say which one here because it doesnt really matter. I have struggled to understand many events from the Old Testament. Today God spoke to me. “See what Jesus did for you?” So, blessed to be living in a time such as this. Under the new convenant God provided for us through Jesus. All the people of the Old Testament lived thousands of years on the promise of a Messiah. They were saved by a promise not yet arrived. Most died without seeing the promise fulfilled but they were still loved by God and those that loved God back were given a way to salvation. They lived in some pretty rough times. I can see God’s love for them and His many ways of pointing to the Savior to come even in their harsh times. Now, we live in a time where no more sacrifices are required. No more living under the law. Our salvation is bought and paid for as soon as we place our belief in Jesus Christ. The law is no longer our salvation from above but is now the road beneath our feet that guides us on our way. It is the guide God gave us to show us which way to go. I may not always understand why or how things went down in the Old Testament but some things I know for sure: God is good. He was good then and good now. His ways are just. I can trust Him without a doubt. Jesus is our savior. What He did for us is beyond true comprehension. There are people that waited years for His arrival and here we are waiting for His return. What it must have been like to be on earth in the short amount of time that Jesus was here in the flesh! To see Him. To be smiled upon by Him. Oh what it will be like when I do see Him. How can I ever thank Him? How? By living in and respecting the freedom and grace we have been given through Him. That was the whole point. Allowing Him to give me this gift of grace and mercy and doing my best to pass it on to others. That is as close as I can get to showing Him just how grateful I am. God chose us to come to earth so we can choose Jesus and live an eternal life with Him in heaven. God WANTS to spend eternity with us amd gives us the choice to do so. All you have to do is choose it! Choose Christ! Say yes! Let Him heal you and give you love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. It is the quality of your life here on earth and it is your life in eternity that depends on this choice. Choose Him!!!