Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
“God, please break me.”
How many times have we prayed that seemingly simple prayer or something like it? We know we need to change. We want to change. We want to break free of the sin or the complacency in our lives. So we tell God to do it for us. But it doesn’t happen.
Let’s talk about why it doesn’t happen.
God is not a puppeteer. We have no strings attached to us that allow Him to control or manipulate us. And He will never force us to do something.
Therefore, He will never break us or force us to stop sinning or doing those things that we know aren’t pleasing to Him. It’s up to us. Yes, that sounds a bit strange, but it really is up to us.
God hates sin and complacency. But He loves us. So, because He loves us, and He wants our affection for Him to be genuine, He allows us to choose the path for our lives.
We can choose to follow Him or reject Him. We can choose to get free from sin or stay entangled in it. We can choose to walk closely with Him or have a “casual”, weak relationship with Him and walk with Him at a distance.
It’s all up to us. We choose. So if it’s up to us, how can we make change happen in our lives if we seem and feel so powerless?
Through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Through Christ, we can do all things. We can overcome sin in our lives. We can defeat complacency in our lives. We can make choices and decisions that bring about change in our lives, not on our own strength, but through the strength of Christ in us!
So when temptation comes our way, either to sin or to remain complacent in our walk with God, we need to take the initiative to do the thing that pleases God. Once we make the first move, God will meet us where we’re at and help us follow through.
And he will give us whatever we need to bring about the change in our lives that we are in need of.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
This doesn’t mean it will always come easy. It may not. But as we make more right choices, and we press in to God and build our relationship with Him, it will get easier over time.
Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie
Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808
401-315-0902
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