Skip to main content

Don’t


   It happens to all of us when want to do the thing we know we shouldn't do.  When we want to fire back to a snotty Facebook comment or eat the extra cookie our waist lines can’t afford, or slough off the task that needs to get done.  There is little voice in the back of your head that says, “Don’t”.  It may be small, and barely a whisper but let me give you some advice, listen to it.

    Don’t.  Don’t take that drink. Don’t click that link.  Don’t say what you know you shouldn’t.  Don’t succumb.  Don’t go there.  Don’t do that.  Don’t give in to the temptation.

   Just don’t.

   Think, how much misery has it given you when you disregarded that voice?  The quick drop of pleasure you get from not listening will quickly be drowned in the sea of regret at the consequences of ignoring what you are really saying to yourself.

   That voice may be weak and pathetic.  It gets that way when it is never listened to.  The strange thing is however; that voice is more like a muscle than you think. The more you use it the stronger it gets.  Even when it has atrophied, it can regain its strength if you will just exercise it by exercising self-control.

   I know what you are thinking, it is too hard.  I can’t do that. I just don’t have the willpower.  Well then let’s consider a passage of scripture I’m pretty sure you have heard but maybe not in this context:
1 Corinthians 10:13
  No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
   You wouldn't be facing this temptation if He didn't know that you can handle it.  Deep down in there somewhere, He sees that there is more will and determination than maybe you realize is there.  He knows that when it comes down to the moment to make the choice to give in or not, you have it in you to not. To overcome. To say no. To Don’t

   He wouldn't let you face it if you couldn’t. 

   On top of that, He will make a way to get away.  You see that voice is like a muscle. If you make it work too hard and too long, it will give out.  So He is going to provide a way to get out of the temptation.  You just have to be willing to take it.  Don’t be afraid to hit that door running and don’t look back.

   Don’t. Then don’t stop till you are out of its’ grip.

   Some of the most difficult things in life are not difficult choices but the willingness to make the choice. If you thinking that you should give into temptation, don’t
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Until Midnight

    In Acts 20, there is the tragicomic event surrounding a young man by the name of Eutychus. He did what a lot of folks before and after him did, he fell asleep during a sermon. Unfortunately, he was setting in in the third story window at the time. So instead of nodding off and hitting the pew in front of him, he fell to his death. The good news was the apostle Paul was delivering the sermon and had the ability to bring him back.       I don’t know, however, if we can judge Eutychus too harshly. The sermon had gone on till midnight. Paul wouldn’t finish it up till daybreak. That’s a long lesson. I know some folks that might want to jump out of a window if I had a lesson that long, yet these Christians wanted to be there to hear Paul.   Don’t get me wrong, I’m not pushing for all night sermons but I think we might need to adopt these folks' dedication. They knew that Paul was only in town for a limited time only and they were determined to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Gift You Give Yourself

    I always hated buying gifts for my Mom. If I got her something like a new set of pans, it was like saying “Here’s something you can use to go make me something to eat”. A gift for her was seemingly a gift for me.   There are however gifts you give that benefit you more than the receiver. For example, forgiveness. When you give it, you are giving it to yourself as much as you are giving it to them. Jesus said that when we forgive others it means God is forgiving us our wrongs (Matthew 6:14-15).  I once read: “ Heaven is where everyone's forgiven. Hell is where nobody's forgiven.  So, when we forgive we pull heaven down into our lives.  When we withhold forgiveness, we pull hell up into our lives ” Give yourself something nice today, Forgive.
Post a Comment
Read more

Mysterious Ways

    William Cowper didn’t see any reason to live.   He decided that he’d jump off the bridge over the Thames. So, he called a cab to take him there.   But that night in 1763, a thick fog enveloped London. It was so thick the cab driver couldn’t find the bridge and couldn’t even find the way to take William home. In frustration, he ordered the driver to stop and get out to get his bearings. He walked up to the nearest house to read the number and it was William's house. Gone now were William’s thoughts of suicide and instead a new idea came into his head. So, he went in and wrote these words: God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. He plants his footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm.  You fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds you so much dread Are big with mercy and shall break In blessings on your head.     I sometimes wish we could see all the ways God watches over us when need it. There are...
Post a Comment
Read more