“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)
When inappropriate desires well up inside us how do we respond? God has made us with the freedom to choose. He cannot make up our mind for us. If He did we would be robots acting on command with no feeling or desires of our own. It is our choice to make our own decisions.
Often it is not easy to make the right choice. Maybe we have a habit of some sort that is like a magnet drawing us to a wrong choice. Maybe it is distractions from the media, from our work place, or in a social group, or whatever, that draws us away from making right choices. It is so easy to blame our circumstances, background or people for our failures.
In Romans 7:15 Paul said, “For that which I do I [understand] not; for what I would, that I do not; but what I hate that do I.” The “I” of the Saul of Tarsus is at war with the “I” as in Paul the apostle. After several verses of examining his plight he says in verses 24 and 25, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from this body of death? I thank God (I am) delivered through Jesus Christ our Lord . . ..”
The next verse is Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ.” When we are born-again we cannot be condemned by anyone, including ourselves.
We put on the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5). We renew our minds to God’s Word (Romans 12:2.) We learn to love God more than we love our inappropriate desires.
Succumbing to un-God-like desires does not bring real satisfaction. It may bring physical pleasure for the moment. But it is not satisfying, long term. And it only brings further distress to our hearts because we have failed again.
The problem is that our real desire is spiritual and we don’t recognize it as such. Satan blinds our eyes and in a very subtle way convinces us that we can fulfill that desire by continuing to make the wrong choices and he makes us think these are right choices. We give in to making wrong choices because of desperation, fear, loneliness, lack of direction in our life, lack of acceptance or recognition.
Maybe we haven’t learned it yet, but if we “seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness all these things shall be added unto you.” We will be satisfied. Our longings and desires will be fulfilled.
We are more than conquerors in the battle for control of our passions, drives and longings. We activate the power of God that is already within each one of us who truly know God as our own heavenly Father.
What is the gain we carry away from this battle when we are victors? “All these things shall be added unto you.” You decide what you desire, but seek first God and His Word. You decide to not indulge in that which has kept you in bondage for so long. You will come away rejoicing that you are a conqueror.
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“PRAISE AND POWER” is an independent ministry of Betty Bowen. 2010 Brownstone Lane, Charlottesville, VA 22901. There is no charge for “Praise and Power.” It is supported by your gifts and your prayers. My prayer is that you will be edified as you apply the principles of God’s Word in a practical way in your life. 063009
