Post by ily on Aug 22, 2006 23:43:11 GMT -5
Learn To Say No To Your Flesh
No one could control him...he was in the graveyard...cutting himself
with stones.
Mark 5:4-5 CEV
The Bible says this man "had often been put in chains...but he broke
[them]. No one could control him." They couldn't stop him from hurting
himself, because when you're under Satan's control the last thing you'll
do is listen to those who care about you. When it's an issue of control,
whatever the flesh wants it gets! For example, have you ever been so
convicted about a particular sin that you promised God, "Never again?"
But a week later you ended up doing the same thing? The problem is once
you start breaking promises to God it's easy to do the same to yourself
and others. When you're in the flesh you feel like you can get away with
anything. You think because you're so discreet that nobody knows the
fantasies you entertain. Or you're so smooth because you've got alibis
for all your sinful activities!
What you fail to realise is that by violating the boundaries God put in
place for your protection, you're hurting yourself and jeopardising your
future. It's not just a question of being tempted; the Bible says God
won't "let you be pushed past your limit" ( 1 Corinthians 10:13 TM).
It's a question of God being able to trust you to impose restraints on
your own behaviour.
Is there an out-of-control area in your life? An infatuation? A hurtful
habit? If you ask God to help you say no to your flesh and to exercise
restraint through the power of His Spirit - He'll do it! That's a
promise!