Contending with Self

Your heart (or depths of your spirit) and the way you think in your mind will reveal whether you are truly a follower of Jesus Christ. It's a known fact that a person's focus determines his/her behavior. If you focus on your feelings and your desires, your eyes will not be on Jesus and you will give Satan a foothold in your thought life. Your words and actions always stem from your thoughts. What are your deep longings? On what do you place the majority of your thoughts?

God does have an answer...there is a BETTER way! Your "Hope" lies in the promises He has given in His Word. He has promised to:

Make you clean
Give you a new heart and a new spirit
Give you the desire and power to follow His instructions. (see Ezekiel 36:26-27)

This change can only be accomplished through His two witnesses...the Word and His Holy Spirit.

When a child is adopted by a family, that child becomes part of that family and eventually takes on many of the characteristics of that family. When you accepted Jesus Christ as Lord, you began the process of putting on His character through His indwelling Spirit. (see Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10; Romans 8:29)

When you make the Bible, which is His Word, your guide to live by, God will show you how to change. He has promised it.

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword,...it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

As you study His Word for your life, you can ask Him for understanding and direction. The Bible says in Isaiah 30:21:

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'"

This is God's miracle formula. It works every time. Your "Hope" lies in asking yourself:

How am I giving recognition to my Creator in the way I think, act, or speak?

How can I give more attention to other members in my family?

If I say I love the Lord, is there someone else that I know who needs His love expressed through me?

How can I rejoice in someone else's achievements without jealousy?

Am I the only person who is experiencing a difficult life?

How can I comfort someone else who may be worse off than I am?

Are the things and money I desire going to bring glory to me or to the Lord?

Your next question may now be, "If God wants me to be able to do this, He's going to have to show me how. Does He have a plan for ME?" How do I learn how to please Him and serve others?"

Click the next link and get a few ideas.