BIBLE READING: 2 Thess 2:15 - 16 15 With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter. 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, 17 comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.
BLOG: Anyone who knows me knows I will say, "Stop It!" I blame years of working with teenagers.
But to stop doing something in your life is an act of faith.
1 Peter 2 Stop being hateful! Quit trying to fool people, and start being sincere. CEV
Peter is bluntly saying, stop doing sinful things and stop putting on an act. But maybe you're struggling to stop a bad habit or "stinkin thinkin." Perhaps you're trying to stop being angry with someone or being a "fake" person around others.
Here's the faithful part. God supports stopping all of these things and more. He knows that you have to make choices every day. He empowers us to make right choices knowing that none of us are perfect. People struggle, and many times, they don't know how to get out of trouble. So what do you do?
Declare that you are going to Stop It! This is an act of faith. You know that failure is possible (see my next point), but you've got to start somewhere. Look at yourself in the mirror and say. I am going to stop . . .
Forgive yourself again and again. God isn't looking for flawless perfection. He's looking for faithful consistency. If you fall - get up and try again.
Start your morning with prayer. Ask God for help. Tell Him that you know that it is His will for you to stop it.
Pray, "Not my will, but Yours be done," Don't assume how God is going to do it. Just be ready to accept it when it happens. Once a man asked me to pray for him. I asked, "What for?' He said, "I am an alcoholic." I prayed, and he said at that moment. "Something has changed about me." A few days later he called and said, "I can't believe it! Every time I try to take a drink, it tastes horrible. I can't stand the stuff."
What does the Bible say and then say it! Research the Bible and find out what it means. Then declare it out loud. Pray and say, "God, Your Word says . . . I am standing on the Word of God."
PRAY: Dear Jesus, Your Word says that you will help me. I need help to stop it. AMEN
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