O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! Let they grace, Lord, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee: Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love; Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.
Lyrics: Robert Robinson
This is the 3rd verse of the hymn, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”. The song just kind of popped in my head as I was sweeping. But when I thought about that last part, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it”, something clicked for me. Its funny how you can hear something over and over all your life but it won’t make sense until its time and I feel that is the case for me in this moment. I can understand why the writer wrote that. Paul agreed when he said :
“So i find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.” (Romans 7:21-23)
Paul could feel it too; The battle we have against sin. We know the Lord and his commandments but sometimes we just have the urge to go in the opposite direction.
Why is this the case?
Well, the first group of people that were God’s people didn’t do right by Him.
“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator- Who is forever praised. Amen” (Romans 1:21-25)
In a nutshell, God gave us over to sin. Instead of making us chose Him, He gave us a choice. So now we live this life fighting to live right, but sin is still in us, regardless of our choice to follow Christ or not. Once you find the light which is Jesus Christ and you understand what is right and what is sin, you will begin to know the signs of your wandering flesh. There will always be a part of you that wants to go back to your “old life”. The key is to recognize it and strengthen your spirit against those desires.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except was is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
God is truly faithful! Although he lets us battle with sin he won’t give us anything we can’t overcome. Although it seems rough, we have to know that we have the victory since we are forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! he gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Let NOTHING move you! Do not allow the enemy to make you think you have no control over your life and actions. Remember:
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:11-12
I know this blog seems super scripture heavy but that’s what can really get you through. When I was coming out of my situation I had scriptures posted EVERYWHERE (and I still do!) The one I kept reciting is 1 Corinthians 10:12-13, it helped me to know that what I was going through, others had gone through as well and that God knew I could handle the process. And he surely delivered me. IT didn’t take me out! Yes, testimony is always a motivation (that’s why I do this) but you NEED to know that the God you serve and Christ who died for your freedom wants you to be free from the bondage of sin. That is one of the reasons we have the Bible, so that you will know how he feels about you when you can’t hear his voice (or when you don’t want to because you’re ashamed of where you are in life.) His love is UNconditional, it doesn’t change because of the things you are doing.
Know the signs (Your thoughts)
Stay away from things/ people that will make you relapse. (I stopped listening to Trey Songz)
Stay in the Word. Know that God wants you out!
Be Free but not too free…..
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