Why It's Hard To Stop Doing Wrong

In review of 1 John 1:8 it says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”

Bottom Line:

You are only deceiving yourself if you think you are without sin.

What this means to me:

If I think that I’m without sin, or can’t think of any, I’m only deceiving myself, and refusing to accept the truth.

It seems sin always involves some form of self-deception. The moment I’m sinning, I’m deceiving myself because I think that what I’m doing will actually produce better results than what God has already told me to do.

So In order to stop defeating myself, I must stop deceiving myself. I’ll need to take an honest look at my life, face the truth, and deal with any issues. Is there something in my life I’m pretending isn’t a problem? I’m not going to get healing until I first acknowledge the root of a problem.

I won’t have to hit rock bottom. There will usually be wake-up calls going on all around, I just need to tune in to them.

I think the biggest problem many folks have is waiting too long before they ask for help. By the time they ask, its difficult or almost impossible to turn it around.

Today’s verse says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8 NIV).

Today, I need to consider what are the hard questions I need to be asking about the sin in my life? Are their warning signs I’ve been ignoring? If I am to obtain healing, I’ll need to acknowledge the root of the problem and face the truth about it.

In summary sin can be self-deceiving, when I’m in it I may not be recognizing the truth and only deceiving myself. God it seems when my selfish desires take over and I convince or deceive myself into thinking I’m ok, or what I want to do is better than what God wants for me. I’m not really recognizing the truth. Thank you for the reminder this morning that I need to not rationalize or deceive myself. I need to consider my repeated sins and look to determine the root cause. I need to eliminate pride and reach out for help early so that I can deal with it before it becomes really destructive to myself or others.

Why I Do What I Don’t Want To Do

In review of John 8:32 it says, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Bottom Line:

And you will learn and know the truth, and this truth will set you free

What this means to me:

If I remain faithful to Jesus teachings, I will know learn and know the truth, and this truth will set me free.

This morning I’m considering why it is I do what I don’t want to do? It seems hard to do that which I know is right.

I’m learning that my sinful nature causes me to often make the wrong choice. I can relate directly to the apostle Paul when he says, “I don’t understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate …. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t” (Romans 7:15, 17-18 NLT, second edition).

There seems to be this tension inside of me. I have my good nature that God gave me, but I also have my old sinful nature that is constantly pulling at me.

I believe the scripture I’m reading today helps provides a way out! Jesus promised in John 8:32, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (NIV).

What I’m learning is that the secret to personal change is not willpower. It’s not a pill. It’s not a resolution. It’s not some vow that I make. The secret to personal change is not something I do or say.

The secret to personal change is actually something I know. I know the truth. When I change the way I think, it changes the way I feel. And when I change the way I feel, it changes the way I act.

Behind every self-defeating act is a lie I believe. It may be a lie about myself, my past or future, God, or others.

Why do I do something that I know is bad for me? Because I think there’s some kind of payoff. That’s the lie! I can only change and fulfill God’s purpose for my life if I start with God’s truth. If I want to change the way I live, I’ll have to start with my mind. I’ll have to know and believe God’s truth.

When I know the truth, the truth will set you free. What I need to do is expose and uncover the lies that I have been accepting. Some of those lies I’ve picked up on the playground as a kid or from TV or culture. Some of them I picked up from me parents or even creatively thought them up myself. But they are lies, and when I reject them and instead find out what God has to say, I will experience freedom like I’ve never known.

In summary, when I follow Jesus, he will reveal the real truth and this truth will free me from my old ways of believing. Wow, I thank you God for sending your Son, Jesus, to show me and allow me to learn your truth. When I absorb this truth, I can combat the false beliefs that I have and begin live differently. Today, I need to consider the false payoffs I think I get with my selfish nature. In reality it never really pays off, it only gets me into trouble. I need to know and truly believe in God’s truth and not in the payoff from the lies I have been holding onto.

Four Ways God Speaks to Me

In review of Job 33:14 it says, “God does speak — sometimes one way and sometimes another — even though people may not understand it.”

Bottom Line:

God speaks in different ways, and we don’t always recognize it.

What this means to me:

God speaks in many different ways, unfortunately I may not always recognize or understand his voice.

I think often I allow myself to get distracted or too busy to listen for God’s response. But what I’m learning is that I have to take the time to tune in and listen, because God is speaking. Job 33:14 says, “God does speak — sometimes one way and sometimes another — even though people may not understand it” (NCV).

The question is, “How can I understand it? How can I tune in so that I can hear it?”

Four of the ways or channels that God uses are:

Through his Word - God speaks to me through the Bible. It’s my guidebook for life. It shows me the right step to take. That’s why I need to read God’s Word every day. If I’m not having a daily quiet time and reading the Word, God is getting a busy signal when he wants to speak to me. I have to keep a constant connection, because God’s will is found in his Word.

Through teachers - God speaks to me through teachers. I have experienced times in a church service where I felt like what was being taught was a direct message to me from God. There’s no way the teacher could figure out exactly what to say to meet every need. But God knows. God uses the teaching of pastors to meet the needs of people who are listening.

Through impressions - God speaks to us through impressions. There are two extremes to this. One extreme is the rationalist who believes no impression can be from God; it all has to be logical. At the other extreme is the mystical belief that every impression is from God. I need to get in the middle and realize that every impression has to match God’s Word.

Through circumstances - God speaks to me through my circumstances. If I’m going to live a life of significance, God’s got to make constant course corrections, and one of the things he uses to do that is the circumstances that come into my life. When you start to listen to God through circumstances, impressions, teachers, or the Bible, sometimes he’s going to lead me in ways that I don’t understand. I just need to hang in there. Following God will not always be easy, however it will reap more blessing than I can ever imagine.

In summary God will speak in different ways and I may not always realize or understand it when it happens. This morning I thank you God for the reminder that you speak in many different ways. I just need to look for and recognize it. As I run across themes and ideas from his Word and from teachers, I can more easily confirm the impressions I’m getting and how it relates to my circumstances. God will use all of these methods to speak to me. I just need to realize the ones that are from him, as they will line up and be confirmed with what is written in his Word.

Two Steps to Knowing God’s Will

In review of James 1:5 it says, “If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him.”

Bottom Line:

If you want to know what to do, ask God, and he will gladly tell you.

What this means to me:

If I need wisdom in order to know what to do, I can ask God, he will gladly tell me and not rebuke me for asking.

In order to know God’s will, I’m learning that there is a couple of things I need to do:  

First, admit that I need guidance. As a guy it’s tough admitting when I’m confused. It’s not in my nature to say, “Hey! I’m lost!” and stop and ask for directions. So when it comes to knowing God’s will, it takes some real courage to admit that I’m confused and need direction. Psalm 25:9 says, “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way” (NIV). If I’m arrogant and think I’ve got it all figured out, God’s going to say, “Be my guest. Go for it!” I think quite often I go to work assuming that I know what to do without praying about it. I make financial decisions all the time without praying about it. I make vacation plans without praying about them. I think I know, however I might want to stop and admit that I need guidance, because it’s the first step in getting God’s will for my life.

Secondly, I need to ask God in faith for directions. The Bible says in James 1:5-6, “If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to tell you, for a doubtful mind will be as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind” (TLB). There are two keys to knowing God’s wisdom. First, I’ve got to ask the right person: God. I don’t ask my barber, my barista, or some other “reliable” authority like a radio or TV talk show host. I have to ask the right person! Then I need to ask with the right attitude: expecting God to answer. I sure that I have asked God to lead me, but didn’t really expect him to? That’s why I never got anything from it. I must ask expecting an answer. God honors faith, and he promises wisdom for the next step of your life.

In summary, if I want to get direction and know what to do, I only need to ask him. He has promised to provide the direction I need. God thank you for this reminder this morning that you will always provide wisdom and direction. I need to bring more of my decision points to God and requests for direction. I need to admit more that I need guidance, then I need to ask God in faith for direction to take. I believe the key for me is to ask but with the right attitude; expecting that you will answer and provide the most prudent direction.

Why God May Not Be Telling Me the Next Step

In review of Ecclesiastes 5:4 it says, “When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools.”

Bottom Line:

When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in keeping it, because God doesn’t have much use for someone who is foolish.

What this means to me:

When I make a promise to God, I should never delay in keeping and fulfilling it. God doesn’t have much use for someone who is foolish. So I need to do what I had promised I would.

There are already a lot of things God wants me to do with my life. So the question is, why haven’t I done them? God is not necessarily obligated to give me step 2 until I’ve completed step 1. So as I have questions such as; “I want to know God’s will for my ,” and God says, “Let’s get to the basics. Are you reading your Bible? Are you in a small group? Are you tithing? Are you talking with me?” I need to start doing what I already know to be the revealed will of God for my life.

So, what I need to consider is what do I already know to do but haven’t done yet? Given this, what’s my next step? Am I going to make it to the end of another week, another year without doing what God has already told me to do?

What am I waiting for?

Ecclesiastes 5:4 says, “When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools” (NLT). Don’t delay. Do what you already know to do.

“Lord, I need your guidance in my life. I ask in faith that you direct me. Help me to listen for your response, to not get so busy that I can’t hear you. Father, when I don’t understand it, help me to trust you and understand that you have a path that is for my good. God, what’s my next step? Help me to do what I already know I should do. Help me to not get frustrated. Help me to not be fearful but to trust in you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

In summary, why would God provide me the next step, when I had not already done the first thing he has told me to do? I should proceed and not delay in what he has told me already, as God takes no pleasure in my delays. Thank you God for this gentle reminder this morning that helps me realize that you may never layout a complete course of action. You give me just enough to take the next step. Instead of waiting to see the whole plan, I just need to move forward in faith with what you have told me, knowing that you will lead me through the remaining steps as I follow them diligently, and without delay.

Finding Out God’s Will

In review of 1 Corinthians 1:9 it says, “God will surely do this for you, for he always does just what he says, and he is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with his Son, even Christ our Lord.”

Bottom Line:

God can be trusted, he has invited you into a partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

What this means to me:

God is faithful, for he always does just what he says. He is the one who has invited me into a wonderful friendship with his Son, my Lord Jesus Christ.

Ultimately God will not play games with me. He wants me to understand his will, his purpose, and his plan for my life.

At times I think, “I want God to guide me, but I still get confused. I don’t know what to do.” What I’m learning is that the problem is that I may be looking for the wrong thing. I’ll need to know what I’m looking for before I can find it.

So, what is God’s will?

Well, God’s will is not a feeling. It will not be a feeling or a supernatural sign. I won’t find God pulling my heartstring so I’ll know exactly what to do. For feelings are unreliable; they will often guide me the wrong way. Feelings can come from fatigue, hormones, or an event I’ve just experienced. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful” (NIV). Even my heart plays tricks on you. Even the devil can create a feeling. So, I should not wait for a feeling when I’m trying to figure out God’s plan for my life.

Also, God’s will is not a formula. In our culture, we tend to want everything to be easy. We want things to follow a simple formula so it will instantly change our lives. We want a step-by-step guide. However, there’s a problem with this approach: There’s no room for mistakes. If God’s will is a recipe, what happens if you leave out one ingredient? If you leave baking soda out of a recipe, you’ve got the difference between a birthday cake and a pancake. What if I have “52 Steps to Knowing God’s Will,” and you leave out number 37?  God’s will is not a closed system. It is dynamic! It is not always an issue of choosing A or B. In fact, many times I can choose from A to Z, and any of them will be OK. It’s my choice. Why would God give me a brain and not expect me to use it? He lets me make choices, and he gives me second chances.

So If God’s will is not a feeling or a formula, then what is it?

I’m learning that It is a relationship. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1:9, “God … invited you into this wonderful friendship with his Son, even Christ our Lord” (TLB).

There is very little in the Bible about the technique of knowing God’s will. But there are thousands and thousands of verses that talk about developing a loving relationship with Jesus Christ. This is because God’s will is a relationship.

The better I get to know him, the less confusion I’m going to have about what his will is. If I Get to know God, then everything else becomes secondary.

In summary, God will do exactly what he says, and he has invited me into a friendship with his Son, Jesus Christ. Today I thank you God for revealing to me that knowing your will is all about a relationship with you and not a feeling or a formula. As I move forward, I should continue to cultivate my relationship not only with God but with his Son Jesus Christ.

Learning To Never Give Up In Loving Others

In review of 1 Corinthians 13:7 it says, “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

Bottom Line:

Love is so supportive that it never gives up, it never loses trust, it is always hopeful and will endures regardless of the circumstance.

What this means to me:

My love towards others requires me to be loyal, regardless of the cost. I need to believe in and always expect the best from them. I should be willing to stand my ground in defending them regardless of the circumstances.

Given the definition in this verse, love can be absolutely exhausting. However, this is the kind of love that really makes a difference in this world, but can zap everything out of me.

Often, I come across time when I just don’t feel like I have any more love to give. So I just shut down. Or I need to show love to a particular person who is demanding, selfish, and never returns my love. And I think, “I’m done. No more.”

While this is perfectly natural and human, it’s not the standard of love God calls me to in his Word. The verse reminds me that, “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT, second edition). Love never gives up.

So how can I have that kind of persistent love for others?

What I’m learning is that I need to get refueled. Just like my car needs to be refueled to run, so do I when it comes to love.  

In order to give the kind of persistent love that God wants me to give, I have to refuel my love tank.

As I look around me at this world, I see it has become littered with debris from relationships that have crashed and burned and lot of this is likely to due to people not refueling their love.

How do I refuel my love tank? I start by letting God love me.

The Bible says, “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19 NIV). When I’m worn out, tired, and can’t imagine showing love to anyone else, remember that God loved me so much that he sent his Son to die for me. This is what can keep me going when I want to quit.

Love is something I should never give up on. God’s standard for love tells me that I should never gives up or lose faith in someone. I should always look to the good and endure whatever it takes. God, today you have reminded me that love is not always easy, it takes work. As such I should not give up regardless of what happens or is happening. You have provided me with greatest example in what you had done for me. Today, I should consider if there is anyone I may have written off as a lost cause. I need to not give up on them, but continue to love and support them. I can refuel my tank by continuing to spend daily quiet time with God.