Know Your Enemy

I heard a sermon today on backsliding.

I felt convicted and I was surprised.  Me? I'm not back-slidden!  (self-righteous much?)

So here I am at 9:20 something at night confessing God's work in my heart.  Because even though I have a houseful of busy kids God's been with me right along, all day, working on me.

I began to write down this afternoon the things that draw my heart away.  Quite frankly, the things that I run to when I'm stressed.  Facebook.  Free TV on the internet.  A phone call to Mom...or whoever will just pick up the other end of the line.  

God wants me to run to Him when I'm stressed.

So I'm looking at this list of time-wasters, time-drainers.  And I'm realizing how all of the justifications I've been using are pretty lame.  Most of what I've been reading/watching/doing really isn't God-glorifying kinds of stuff.  It's pretty much garbage.  I'M pretty much -- Back-slidden?  Huh.  Look at that.  God makes really great mirrors.

Thank God for other-people mirrors.

Because I've been clinging pretty tight to my little house idols.  I've been hiding them under the floor.

TWICE this week I told strangers how inspirational and disciplined my sweet sister in law Amy is.  And how I'm NOT.  And the Holy Spirit echoed my words in my ears and said I CHOOSE to be undisciplined.  My choice.  Not my identity.  And that if I wanted to?  HE would CHANGE me.  Just like that.

And so we looked at my list.  Me and God.  My list of garbage.  And I asked Him....

Are you big enough to help me with this?

And He said, Do you Love Me?  Because I've already delivered you.

You are Free.

And then He said, Let's look at that list again.  Because you have an Enemy.  And your Enemy is going to come at you with the temptations on that list on Monday morning, when you're alone, and weak, and just like last time, you will WANT to be a slave to your own selfish desires.

and He said, KNOW YOUR ENEMY.

And I knew this was a battle, and I wanted to win it.

So I looked at my list, and I asked myself, which is bigger, my desire for these things or my LOVE for Jesus?

THE THIEF DOES NOT COME EXCEPT TO STEAL (my time) AND TO KILL(my joy), and DESTROY (my peace).  I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY.

JOHN 10:10

I can expect the thief to show up tomorrow, but this time, I am ready for him.  This time, I see him coming, and I will make no excuses to let him in.  I choose.  I am no slave to sin.  I am born again.

I Choose Life.

I Choose Jesus.