What Gives Vicious Circles So Much Power?

How would you describe a vicious circle as it applies to yourself? In the world of politics, past and present, men and women desperately have tried to win voters by promising to fix the problems in government, education, work, and society.

Promises are not easy to keep, so criticism and blame flood the media. Vicious circles become so entrenched that when effort is made to loosen their tenacious grip, it seems hopeless. Human beings seek hope even if it’s false hope based on partial truth.

Some folks grasp onto vicious circles of lying, trying to convince others a falsehood is actually truth. The problem with deception is, it alienates oneself from God and others. Deception can be replaced with truthfulness with God’s help, for “Greater is he that is in you than he who is in the world.”

Christ Jesus is the light for your life, who makes the way clear.                          

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Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right speak the truth from sincere hearts. [They] refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.

~Psalm 15:2-3 New Living Translation

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Other People's Influence

Temptation from peer pressure is an issue because each person is subject to the political, spiritual, and social views of others. Yet James 1:15 declares, “It's our own evil desires that we have to monitor and subdue.” God has made it possible, however, for us to resist and overcome evil tendencies with the power he provides.

Outside influences create pressure our conscience and values must contend with when temptation’s cutting edge slices into our everyday life. Even so, we must guard against our own desires teaming up with outside forces to break down our resistance to these enticements.

Yes, vulnerabilities exist, but God makes it possible for us to resist peer pressure and temptation by accepting the escapes he provides. 1 John 4:4’s affirmation is, "You, dear children, belong to God and will defeat these enemies, for greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world." Believe God’s word. It’s powerful.

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Dear friend, if bad companions tempt you, don’t go along with them.

~Proverbs 1:10 The Message

 

Do not go where evil people go. Do not follow the example of the wicked. Don’t do it! Keep away from evil! Refuse it and go on your way.

~Proverbs 4:14-15 Good  News Bible 

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Creations of the Mind: Curse or Blessing?

Everything we do, including every thought and spoken word, is fashioned by the mind. It’s little wonder that God would command us to love him with our entire mind, for it is capable of creating advancements either for this world’s good or for evil so destructive, the pain and suffering in its wake is incomprehensible.

The mind is so diverse that it is often conflicted and pulled in different directions. Albert Einstein in 1931 observed, “Concern for mankind and his fate must be the chief interest of all people so that the creations of our mind shall be a blessing and not a curse.” Each person must guard his own mind and push away evil.

The greatest security against evil’s destructive force is to love God with your entire mind. Love for God guards against evil’s power. 1 John 4:4 reminds us, “Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.” Always maintain an attentiveness for the presence of God’s love in your mind.     

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I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God’s blessing and God’s curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Choose life. Love the Lord your God, obey him and be faithful to him, and then you and your descendants will live long in the land.  

~Deuteronomy 30:19-20 Good News Bible

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A New Year of Hope: Lay a New Foundaton with Prayer

 As we approach the coming New Year, what do you desperately want to leave behind that’s been a detriment to your peace and joy? It’s interesting how hurt feelings, anger, and hatred tenaciously cling to us emotionally and refuse to be discarded from our memory.

Building a new foundation for peace and joy cannot be accomplished where resentments are active or deeply buried in our subconscious where they have the tendency to pop up unexpectedly. One way to quiet old memories attached to resentments is to ask God to bless in specific ways those who hurt and wounded you so severely.

Praying for these people each day, or several times a day as the Holy Spirit sparks your memory, will bring about permanent healing and peace in your heart, mind, and spirit. Yes, it takes courage to do this systematically because you have to rebuff every justification for remaining resentful. But remember, Christ in you is greater than he, Satan, who is in the world.  

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Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying.

~Romans 12:12 Contemporary English Version

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The Ten Commandments: A Map for Reverence

Reverence as a virtue has always been associated with appropriate conduct. The Ten Commandments were meant to be a map for showing  reverence for God and all of life. The basic objective of parenting is to teach children to demonstrate appropriate conduct, a gracious disposition, and reverence for God – all based on the Ten Commandments.

Jesus emphatically stated that his objective was to fulfill the Ten Commandments. So no matter how sophisticated our culture becomes, we can never grow beyond our need for Christ Jesus and his command that we love one another as he has loved us.

An attitude of reverence for God provides hope for believing, "Greater is he, the Holy Spirit, who is in you than he, Satan, who is in the world." The more sincere our attitude of reverence is for God, the better equipped we are to fight the good fight of faith he entrusted into our care. God empowers us to live a life that honors him.  

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Don’t suppose I came to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I did not come to do away with them, but to give them their full meaning.

~Matthew 5:17 Contemporary English Version

 

Blessings on all who reverence and trust the Lord – on all who obey him.  

~Psalm 128:1 The Living Bible

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Thoughts that Monopolize

As the intensity of a thought monopolizes your attention, self-control increasingly becomes difficult. If the desire to possess an object intensifies, it has power to prevent you from regulating your thoughts, feelings and behaviors. The capacity to think logically is in danger of collapsing as desire builds up.

An example of lust’s disarming self-control is David’s lust for Bathsheba. Instead of directing his mind to godly pursuits, he continued to bathe his thoughts in sexual fantasies. David knew it was wrong to enjoy these thoughts, for they would lead to the destruction of inner peace.

St. Augustine’s book Confessions exposes his battle with lust. "My will was wicked, and lust grew from it. When I gave in to lust, a habit was born and held me captive.” God gives you power to resist Satan and the temptations he hurls at you. "Greater is he that is in you than he who is in the world." Let this be your faith and confidence for deliverance. 

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Do not love the world or the things that are belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For everything that belongs to the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of one’s lifestyle – is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away; but those who do the will of God live forever.

~1 John 2:15-17 Holman Christian Standard Bible

Evil Distractions? Impulse Control Imperative!

Uncontrollable impulses and urges build a bridge to disaster and destruction. The apostle Paul warned against submitting to distractions that are unacceptable to God. He explicitly instructs us to "put to death sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed.” When the young man Shechem met teenage Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob, he became so out of control with lust and evil thoughts that he raped her.

Becoming distracted happens to everyone at some level, but it’s imperative to exercise impulse control when tempted by evil distractions. However, Shechem gave free reign to his impulsive thoughts and desires and, in doing so, committed a grievous crime.

After raping Dinah, he realized his sinful distractions would have unimaginable painful consequences. Permitting Christ Jesus to have a place of prominence in your thoughts and feelings for others will give you power for effectively managing evil impulses, regardless of their significance. "Greater is Christ Jesus who is in you than Satan who is in the world." 

Grow in Faith and Reap a Harvest of Righteousness - Part 1

Change without struggle is usually impossible but does not deny God’s instantaneously redeeming our souls. God’s mercies are definite motivations for changing old behaviors that are displeasing to him. When experiencing a crisis, we sincerely vow to change, but with time we sense ourselves slipping back into old thinking and behavior patterns.     

          Changes must be practiced diligently to prevent old, unhealthy behaviors from returning. We’re tempted to default on promises to reform by taking the path of least resistance. Jesus related how a man swept his house clean of an evil demon who had made his life miserable. The evil demon later returned with several fellow demons.

          Choosing to change means choosing to do the hard work of creating a new life style that includes what you know is pleasing to Christ Jesus. This is essential for preventing old habits from establishing even greater strangleholds. Greater is he who is in you, Christ Jesus, than he who is in the world. This is God’s promise.  

Choose God's Way: Resist Evil - Part 1

Evil may initially appear harmless and fun. Numbers 25 illustrates how young Israeli men were invited to attend parties given by young Moab women. Soon all of Israel was worshiping the idol gods of these women. While Balaam the prophet could not place an evil curse on Israel, he gave the Moab king this advice: “Get the young Israeli men sexually involved with your young women, and their hearts will turn away from God.”

Although evil may get the upper hand and become dominant, there will be a day of reckoning. While Balaam appeared to be a man of God, he could not let go of the evil permeating his heart and soul. Numbers 31 informs us he was killed in battle against the Israelis.

While temptation is persuasive and evil can deceive God’s people, listen to 1 John 4:4. "Dear young friends, you belong to God and have already won your fight with those who are against Christ, for there is someone stronger than any evil teacher." Praise God for this good news! 

Facing Evil: Choosing Survival - Part 2

Evil does not occur by happenstance. Evil is a deliberate power force  whose mission is to possess and destroy anyone who submits to its enticements. Anton Chekhov wrote in 1887 that "evil passions are as inherent in life as are good ones." Those who close their eyes and ears to evil do not distract from its penetration or its grasp on people.

The Irish politician Edmund Burke wrote, "It is necessary only for the good man to do nothing for evil to triumph." Surviving and defeating evil takes courage, courage to put on the armor of God to stand up against the Devil's evil tricks. The shield of faith which God provides for you deflects Satan's evil darts that he hurls your way.

The shield of faith proves that God stands with you against Satan, which is affirmed by 1 John 4:4: "Greater is he who is in you, than he who is in the world." The shield of faith enables you to reject evil thoughts and impulses by petitioning Christ Jesus to intervene on your behalf. This choice saves you from hurt and suffering. God bless you as you face this challenge. 

Developing a Positive Identity - Part 2

Adolescence is often a blend of self-certainty and troubling confusion. Most children yearn to grow up and have more freedom, but freedom demands responsibility. For that reason it's not uncommon for teenagers to secretly yearn to return to just being a kid, where there wasn't so much responsibility and where the world seemed a safer place.

Most young people eventually get a grip on life that enables them to go forward and find where they belong. Fledgling self-certainty can be  strengthened by hope for the future and parents who encourage. A positive identity helps the adolescent separate and establish independence. Failure to do so indicates identity confusion and self-doubt.

If this is an issue, realize the Lord God is not the author of confusion. As you mature and become capable of managing what God delegates to your care, he provides clarity that conquers confusion. "Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world." Choosing Christ Jesus gives assurance for a bright future that will be meaningful.