I can't be unthinking about how I am thinking or speaking during the day. I need to make a plan to think better and talk better. I need to ask God to examine me and tell me where I can be more like Him. As I am open to His point of view on my thoughts, I'll know what He thinks I'm ready to work on. As I gradually deny my evil urges, decide to stop thinking a bad thought, walk away from a tempting situation, I'm building my endurance as a spiritual warrior.
If I deny my evil urges and do not present my members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, I am enabled to overcome trials.
James 1:2-4:
1:2 My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, 1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 1:4 And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.As I deny sin and overcome trials, my spiritual endurance and Christlike maturity grows in me and my life becomes fruitful. Paul said that he had run his race. Believers all have God's grace and are covered by Christ's blood, but that gets you past the pearly gates. Once there, we have rewards waiting for us, and a loving Father anxious to meet us. There is a component of effort in your Christian walk, whether you think of it as a race or a battle, we are not meant to stop at having just faith in Christ's salvation. Live to please your heavenly Father.
2 Peter 1:4-11:
1:4 Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire. 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; 1:6 to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; 1:7 to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love. 1:8 For if these things are really yours and are continually increasing, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately. 1:9 But concerning the one who lacks such things – he is blind. That is to say, he is nearsighted, since he has forgotten about the cleansing of his past sins. 1:10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this you will never stumble into sin. 1:11 For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided for you.God promises to put Himself into me, I can partake of His nature. All of the feelings of hurt and rejection, all of the painful memories will be washed away as I change my behavior in faith, believing God's promises to make me new and to restore my life. You have faith in God, that's good, but now add to that faith! That's how you'll keep from stumbling around through your life, falling into this trap and that sin.
Continual obedience to the Word of God protects me from delusion and increases my spiritual discernment and my sensitivity to sin. Increase in your knowledge of God's promises and in your self control. As you increase your daily commitment to running towards God, to fighting for His cause, you'll see the world more and more through His eyes. You'll be protected from the tricks and deceptions of the devil.
Hebrews 5:14:
But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil.James 1:22:
But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.It's not enough for me to just accept Christ's redemption. I want to live for Him. Let's start having victories in our life because we've picked side to fight for and we're going to make every effort to express our gratitude for God's grace through how we live our lives.
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