Let's call a Spade a Spade.

How many times have you heard phrases like "it's just a phase," "boys will be boys," or "God doesn't care if I do ___?" All too often, we as people try to rationalize our sins, making ourselves feel better by lying to ourselves about our sin.

Everyone reading this article is a sinner. Everyone you've ever met, known, known of, or never knew, was and is a sinner, an abomination in God's eyes. Why then do we try to act as if it's all right to keep living in sin, and living as we were before we knew our Lord?

From what I understand, we do it 1 to make ourselves feel better and 2 because we don't want to stop our sins. We think we need them, so we hide them from the public eye, from ourselves, and try to hide them from God (we lie to ourselves that this is possible, too.)  Even if we admit it to ourselves, we can't get out of the sin until we admit that we have a problem and can't do it alone to both God and our loved ones.

This is another thing God's been working on me for quite some time, and figured there's plenty of you out there that do the same. Since this is so close to home, I'm not going to just talk about it, I'm going to act on it (wow, last post is working. God is good, amen?)

So here it is, faithful readers. For the past 8 years, I've wrestled with an addiction to pornography. The enemy has had such a strong foothold in my life that it's a daily fight to stay away from it. I can't beat the sin alone, and so I come to my family. Please pray for me and keep me in your thoughts that God may work more on me and in me, through me to others. Thank you brothers and sisters.

Humbly in His hand,
Joseph

You talk God's talk, now walk His walk.

This whole past week God's been saying something to me, rather loudly and on multiple occasions (He does that for those of us who are thick in the head). That message was "You're a child of God, act like it." Honestly, it's been a hard pill to swallow. But hearing Him say that to me has really gotten me thinking about my life.

I've always enjoyed studying theology and religion. I've prided myself on having the interest, and what I've learned and continue to learn about my Lord. I've thought myself to be a devout Christ follower, but on introspect, I'm questioning why I've been lying to myself about that.

Now don't get me wrong, I love God with all my heart. I cannot fathom His grace and mercy, nor why He would love us so much that He sent Jesus to pay our debts. But I've been wondering what I've been doing to honor Him, thank Jesus for that sacrifice in my life. I say I'm a Christian, I talk the talk, but have I really been walking?

I've been thinking  of all the hypocrisies in my faith. I'm quick to judge others, I have a sharp tongue that seems to push others away rather than spread the Lord's love to them. I swear and have a quick temper. To most people, I'm rarely a "nice" person. I go to service, get broken by God's word and His power during every sermon and truly feel the Holy Spirit on me during worship, yet as soon as I am  away from my church family, I am corrupted by the enemy and a slave to my sins. What sets me apart from those who don't know Christ?

That's what God's been saying to me. I've been living like I was when I was a non believer, rather than as His child. I've been saying I'm a believer, that I'm His, but I've still been trying to run my own life, with Him at a distance. He's been saying to forgo my pride, flee my sins and run to Him. I ask you, brothers and sisters, to keep me in your prayers in this endeavor, and that you would feel free to ask me the same.

My prayer for the week:
God, you truly are amazing. I'm blown away every time I think of Your grace, Your mercy and Your love. Lord, I am so undeserving to be Your child, but You love me regardless. I pray that I may leave my sins in the past, that I may begin to act as Your son and Your emissary to those around me, Lord. I ask that You guide me back to Your path and Your light, that You may be Master of my life and I your servant. God, just break me to Your will and plans, that I may further Your kingdom and bring those around me to Your glory. I love You, Lord, and I cannot wait to see Your hand in my life, to see how I will be used in Your plan in my life and in the world. I love you, Lord, and it's Your son's precious and holy name I pray.