breaking a persistent temptation in
your life is simple but it’s not easy.
it’s as simple as abc – accountability, boundaries, CHRISTian
friends. you’ve got to have those
three things in your life or you’re never going to get over it. accountability – one person you’re
authentic with and honest with. boundaries
– you set up some boundaries that keep you from being in situations where
you would be tempted.
a few years back stef our daughter and her husband andrew were in la and they went on sunday to the church where brett and marissa, our son and daughter in law met. andrew had never seen the pastor, erwin mcmanus but he had read a lot of his books. well after the service they went up and met erwin and told him that stef was the sister of the guy who had gone to ireland with erwin two years back and he asked who that was and they said brett williams and he was excited about that.
now the reason why erwin wasn’t sure of who it was is because he travels all over the world speaking and one of his boundaries is that he never goes anywhere without another person going with him and at least one of his family members. he set that boundary to protect himself from temptations when he is out away from home.
you say, but he’s a very GODly man, he wouldn’t do anything like that. but the truth is given the right situation he is capable of anything. and by the way, so are you. if you don’t think you’re capable you are sadly mistaken. “he who standeth take heed lest he fall.” you’re setting yourself up for a fall by saying that could never happen to me. you’re wrong.
the bible says in the book of jeremiah, the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. who can know it?
that means all of us have the amazing ability to fool ourselves to lie to ourselves. you know who you lie to the most? you. and you tell yourself it’s ok. it’s no big deal. when it really is a big deal.
if a person says it’s no big deal, it’s already a big deal because it means they’ve lowered their standard.
i was also reminded of rick warren and some boundaries that he has set for his life. rick is a very influential pastor and writer and he said, “when the purpose driven life became the bestselling book in the world it brought in millions and millions of dollars and i had to build boundaries in my life to prevent satan from getting a foothold of greed in my life.”
do you know what he did? he stopped taking a salary from the church, he still drove the same old ford, he still lives in the house they’ve lived in for over fifteen years. he said, “we didn’t spend the money on ourselves. in fact we give away ninety percent and live on ten.”
why did he do that? he said, “because i don’t want to see how close to the edge i can get and not fall off. it’s how far away from the edge can i get so it’s safe. because too much is at stake – the lives of thousands and millions of people. i’d rather die, stick a knife in my heart than shame the name of JESUS CHRIST.
listen he built boundaries in his life. you build boundaries in your life.
just a thought from the front porch…
a few years back stef our daughter and her husband andrew were in la and they went on sunday to the church where brett and marissa, our son and daughter in law met. andrew had never seen the pastor, erwin mcmanus but he had read a lot of his books. well after the service they went up and met erwin and told him that stef was the sister of the guy who had gone to ireland with erwin two years back and he asked who that was and they said brett williams and he was excited about that.
now the reason why erwin wasn’t sure of who it was is because he travels all over the world speaking and one of his boundaries is that he never goes anywhere without another person going with him and at least one of his family members. he set that boundary to protect himself from temptations when he is out away from home.
you say, but he’s a very GODly man, he wouldn’t do anything like that. but the truth is given the right situation he is capable of anything. and by the way, so are you. if you don’t think you’re capable you are sadly mistaken. “he who standeth take heed lest he fall.” you’re setting yourself up for a fall by saying that could never happen to me. you’re wrong.
the bible says in the book of jeremiah, the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. who can know it?
that means all of us have the amazing ability to fool ourselves to lie to ourselves. you know who you lie to the most? you. and you tell yourself it’s ok. it’s no big deal. when it really is a big deal.
if a person says it’s no big deal, it’s already a big deal because it means they’ve lowered their standard.
i was also reminded of rick warren and some boundaries that he has set for his life. rick is a very influential pastor and writer and he said, “when the purpose driven life became the bestselling book in the world it brought in millions and millions of dollars and i had to build boundaries in my life to prevent satan from getting a foothold of greed in my life.”
do you know what he did? he stopped taking a salary from the church, he still drove the same old ford, he still lives in the house they’ve lived in for over fifteen years. he said, “we didn’t spend the money on ourselves. in fact we give away ninety percent and live on ten.”
why did he do that? he said, “because i don’t want to see how close to the edge i can get and not fall off. it’s how far away from the edge can i get so it’s safe. because too much is at stake – the lives of thousands and millions of people. i’d rather die, stick a knife in my heart than shame the name of JESUS CHRIST.
listen he built boundaries in his life. you build boundaries in your life.
just a thought from the front porch…
