It got me thinking about my life. About some things, bad habits, that I need to abandon and about other, good things, that I never should have stopped doing. There is often a pattern to this behavior. You stop doing the good and the necessary and soon find yourself doing the toxic and needless. [click to tweet]
This cycle looks different for everyone but maybe you can identify with one of these scenarios: You look around at various family members seated in front of the TV with their dinner plate in their laps and wonder when you stopped eating together at the table as a family. You find yourself curled up with a bag of chips, binge-watching Netflix and wonder when you gave up that smoothie and a walk in the park. Or you sit down to breakfast and login to FB instead of reaching for His word.
These are all physical examples but the truth is we can just as easily replace good thinking with toxic thinking. Sometimes it is our bad habits that lead to bad thinking. Like when we begin to justify to ourselves all the things we are doing that we know are wrong. Other times it is our bad thinking that results in the wrong action.
Either way, Paul asks an important question:
You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? (Gal 5:7)In these verses, Paul is reminding the Galatians that they are free in Christ. They are no longer under the law, in that, following a set of rules is not what saves them. Rather they are saved, once and for all, by the blood of Christ. Even so, in the very next verses, Paul is careful to warn them that in this freedom they must allow themselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit lest they turn their freedom into a license to sin.
What I mean is this: be guided by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of your unspiritual nature. (Gal 5:16)These chapters are a good guide for us when we find ourselves entrenched in bad habits, having forsaken other habits that produce light and life in our lives. It's important to examine how we have arrived at our current situation.
It is our nature to choose the path of least resistance. But that path is rarely the path of life. Rather, it usually leads to destruction. [click to tweet]
We may have to pick a few battles to get back on track. These battles may be with our children, our families, or just with ourselves. Regardless, we need to pick them wisely and pick them well. Always acting in accordance with the word of God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
In all things, remember, the harvest of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, fidelity, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Gal 5:22)Friend, even if you're just battling with yourself over some things, remember, be kind. This is not a license to beat ourselves up over our failings but rather an opportunity to admit to God where we've been wrong and seek to bring our thinking and our habits back in line with His word.
Time and again in scripture we see beautiful examples of how God lavishes His love and blessings upon us when we humbly admit our sin and seek His forgiveness. [click to tweet]
Chances are you've felt the Holy Spirit's nudge. The good news is that His mercy is new every morning. Commit your ways to Him today and enter into the JOY and blessing of the Lord!
Blessings,
Testimony Tuesday, #TellHisStory,
Faith On Fire, Grace & Truth,
Inspire Me Monday, RaRa Link Up, Intentional Tuesday,
#WordswithWinter, Titus 2 Tuesday, Thoughtful Thursdays,
Encourage Me Monday, Wholehearted Wednesday,
Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,
#GiveMeGrace, Sitting Among Friends, #Glimpsesofhisbeauty
Counting My Blessings, Grace Moments, Heart Encouragement
#DanceWithJesus
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If you read something here that inspired you, I’d love to hear about it. Please know I appreciate every comment! Thanks so much for stopping by! Blessings, June