SpringCleaning! Addicted to You – March 22
SpringCleaning!
March 22, 2021
Addicted to You
Galatians 5:22-23, ‘But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely (MSG).’
The Bible encourages us that we can overcome what we have compulsively habituated or abandoned ourselves to. In other words, our habits and addictions. In fact, the Word of God today is going to be the housekeeping tools and filters we will use in this corner of our SpringCleaning.
We must admit, that if we are dragging something which hinders behind us, or worse, being drug along by ‘it’, as we studied yesterday, that means we are enslaved to something that is now in charge. But doing things God’s way liberates a slave and produces rewards. You no longer have ‘it’ as your master, and therefore, the throne in the center of you is vacated, allowing its rightful Owner, the Lord your God, to inhabit that place of honor once more.
1 Corinthians 10:13 says, ‘We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust Him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously (TPT).’
There is Good News today! We can replace those areas in our lives that once were succumbed to passions that went against the good God wanted for His child. We can make God our habit. We can be addicted to, or an enthusiast for, His grace in our lives. We can be overwhelmed by His love for us. We can yearn and long for Him, pant for Him like we once panted for other streams and feeds in our lives. We can be passionate for Him and let Him break our hearts for what has broken His. We can overcome because He first overcame. We can live victoriously, and therefore, have a story to share with the someone(s) you rub shoulders with who are just as weighted down and harnessed by their uncontrolled compulsions. We can show them the freedom Jesus offers when they see that the chains that once bound us are lying on the ground in a heap, when they are able to see the emancipation spread across your face and mine, when they too hear the words. ‘So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!’ (John 8:36, NIV).
Come with me in March and let’s clean house!
If you are anything like me, you have kept some things around far too long
and now they got to go! And with the Lord’s help, they can!