Three Likeable Behaviors We Should Not Keep
Seeking the Good Life
Seeking the Good Life
There are many things and behaviors in life we should give up that we would rather keep. Some of these in the times of Jesus would likely be called 'evil spirits'. Behaviors such as selfish pride, and "emotional baggage" are not good for us and are 'stuff' we need to give up, but unfortunately, we just enjoy the sinful feelings they brings us. Also, too often we are too involved in our self afflictions of "worry", so much so that we would not know what to do if we could not worry about something.
Down deep in our hearts we know we need to purge these behaviors as they are truly not worthy of our time, they create barriers, and can easily be physically unhealthy. We know we need help to eliminate them but at the same time we too much desire them. What we do not always realize is that these behaviors become barricades and stumbling blocks to our most important behavior with God- the close personal relationship He wants with us and has demonstrated by pursuing us in completing that relationship!
Down deep in our hearts we know we need to purge these behaviors as they are truly not worthy of our time, they create barriers, and can easily be physically unhealthy. We know we need help to eliminate them but at the same time we too much desire them. What we do not always realize is that these behaviors become barricades and stumbling blocks to our most important behavior with God- the close personal relationship He wants with us and has demonstrated by pursuing us in completing that relationship!
There are many things we need to pray for but perhaps the most important are those that represent barriers to our Relationship with God, our stumbling blocks in knowing Jesus, and the easy detours in accepting the path and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Here are but three that can be real stumbling blocks to knowing God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
- Pray to Avoid and/or Give Up Selfish Pride
Pride is a great but dangerous motivator.
We depend on God for all we do, all we are, and all we accomplish. But, when we think we alone accomplish something, and forget that God gave us the tools, the materials, and the brain to do all we do, then we are on a slippery slope to sin.
When in thinking we alone have done something, we are building barriers in our ability to Love God and anything we do that puts barriers between us and God is Sinful.We have to remember, that 'I" is at the center of the word'p r I d e'
We can take some pride in what we do,
we work hard to accomplish,
we use our brain to understand instructions,
we try to find the best way to solve problems,
but in the end
it is our loving God who provides all that we use,
therefore, we have to give God the Glory in all we do.Some additional thoughts:
a- Pride is a "Sneaky 'little' Sin'
click this link for some others: Sneaky 'Little' Sins
b- Click here for: Ten dangerous thoughts of "I" - Pray to forgive and give up Old Baggage, Grudges, and
the Discontent that comes with it.
We all like to keep stuff. We move, we pack, and some of it goes in the attic. Years later it is still there and we do not want to let go. It does us no good yet we keep it knowing it would be fuel for a fire. The problem is, we pack emotional baggage in our memory attic knowing it is not good for us and not realizing it too can become fuel for a fire. What is worse, this old memory baggage can be about people we love that we chose to have close to us.
For more on 'Old Baggage' and what Jesus had to say about it
click this link: "Old Baggage" - another sneaky sin. - Pray to Follow the Words of Jesus and give up Worry
In Matthew 6: Jesus teaches us not to worry. In fact, He commands us not to worry. We can be concerned about our Problems, Issues, and Troubles (PITS) in life, but excessive concern becomes worry. Worry can lead to a whole host of medical issues including death. Many years ago, a friend of mine excused himself from the Sunday dinner table after attending church, and with his parents, wife, and four children at the table went to the bedroom, took a 410 shotgun and killed himself. He worried himself about a potential Army courts martial (arrest and trial) that he thought death was better than facing life. Worry does lead to problems greater than the PITs you think you have.
Like other issues discussed, worry creates a barrier to our relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is sinful.
Worry- if you are excessively and overly concerned, you have to find a way to beat it. At one point in my life, I was an excessive worrier, I am experienced at beating it because I daily choose to trust God, therefore beating worry everyday.
For more on the medical affects of worry-
google search- worry medical results
or
try this web site:
http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/how-worrying-affects-your-body
For more thoughts on the Biblical aspects of worry and possible ways to beat it
click this link: Worry and Beating It
I caution you, worry can be serious, if you ever have any thoughts of harming yourself or people around you, seek professional advice in addition to Seeking the Kingdom.
Another Link on Worry:
10 Thoughts on Reducing Worry
In nearly all aspects of our lives, if we take something away, there is an empty space that needs to be filled. Read Luke 11 19-28 below for Jesus' thoughts on removing the 'evil spirits' of pride, Old Baggage, and Worry.
In purging something in your life, fill it with Bible Study, prayer, and Seeking the Kingdom. When these and other sinful thoughts come to mind, immediately pray. The thoughts will go away, eventually, if you are sincere in your prayers.
Thanks Be to God
© lonnie coggins
==============================
References:
Luke 11:
19Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.20But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.21"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe.22But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.23"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.24"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.'25When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.26Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first."27As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you."28He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
Sharing these messages
You are welcome to share these messages. You can send the links to your friends, copy and insert the link on FB or you can print the message and share it with your friends.
You can print the message including this sharing message only for your friends and for non-profit. You will have to copy and paste the message to a word processing document. After you copy and paste add the following at the end of the message:
© Lonnie Coggins
ldcoggins@gmail.com
If you desire to use any of these messages in a For-Profit manner you must contact me (email) for permission. Typically, I will most likely give permission.
Please email me if you find any broken links in this message.
lonnie
Publication 0000
Publication 0000
There are many behaviors we know we should not keep, but we too much enjoy the sin in living with them. Click the link for three of these behaviors and what we should get rid of them.
http://lonnieadailythought.blogspot.com/2013/09/three-likeable-behaviors-we-should-not.html
No comments:
Post a Comment