We all fight our own demons
Come Sunday many of us will get all gussied up and present ourselves at church like we are doing God a big favor, giving him a whole hour of our time so far this year. We will be so proud of ourselves for making an effort, and doing so without spoiling Easter dinner, or we may just have to stay home. You have to ask yourself, why are you going to all the bother, if you only believe on Holidays?
It is by Satan’s design that we are kept busy and harried so we can’t slow down enough to worship every Sunday. After all, there are sports to consider, and it may be your only day off, and the last thing you want to do is spend it inside church. It is the fight that goes on inside us every day, of what we should do, with what we end up doing. The fight of yin and yang if you will, or the carnal nature against the spiritual. In our hearts we all want to do what is right in the sight of God. But just like the people of old, that were told to put off all the idols and false teaching, they clung to just a couple. That is how they fell out of favor with God, they let the worldly things corrupt their lives like a cancer, getting more and more important in their lives, and it led them away from God.
We all have things we don’t want to give up, like food, drugs, drink, porn, temper, lying, or even gossip, anything in our lives that will keep us from having a close relationship with our Lord. Don’t misunderstand, we all are tempted on a daily basis, and the struggle is real. That is why the Bible tells us to surround ourselves with like-minded people, (like in church) because there is strength in numbers.
Even Jesus was tempted in the wildness, but didn’t succumb. He felt in need of reassurance in the Garden of Gethsemane, and prayed to His father for guidance; ‘And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.’ To fight our everyday battle with temptations, we need to follow Christ and pray, asking for the will of God in our lives, each and every day not just on Easter and Christmas. Because our temptations come each and every day and we need help to make the right decisions for our spiritual lives.
As parents we need to let our children see that we are vunerable, and need the help of God each and every day in our lives, and seek that help through prayer. I have always been an advocate of teaching by example, so pray with your children and teach them to rely on; Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
We as authors use the theme of struggle of right and wrong in the majority of our stories. It is, after all, human nature to vacillate between good and evil, it is just the way we are wired. We need to step up and realize both in our stories and in real life, help is only a prayer away.
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:5-8
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
I Corinthians 2:14
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
John 3:5-6