Victory247

“I urge you to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among unbelievers that they may see your good deeds and glorify God” 1 Peter 2:11-12

Today’s verse alludes to sinful (wrongful actions, thoughts, and words) desires as something we shouldn’t take lightly. They “WAR” against our souls. These desires usually aren’t thought through, but are reactions or impulses. The urge to yell at someone who annoys us, the urge to gossip about someone we are competing with, the urge to watch a show with way too much skin exposed, to buy that ultra-sized snickers bar at the gas station, to watch too much TV instead of quality time with key people and God, to buy more at the mall then our budget permits, urges to hate, use, or lie to others…

It is worth going to war with sinful desires. It is a show of faith in God. It opens us up to His strength and strong character to flow in us. Our sinful desires are traps of impulses that give short term satisfaction, yet long term inner-erosion. We will lose battles, but reentering the war, and not giving up, is worth it.

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld talks about the Swiss having an interesting army. “Five hundred years without a war. Pretty impressive. Also pretty lucky for them. Ever see that little Swiss Army knife they have to fight with? Not much of a weapon there. Corkscrews. Bottle openers. Come on, buddy, let’s go. You get past me, the guy in back of me, he’s got a spoon. Back off. I’ve got the toe clippers right here.”

Unlike the Swiss, we have some pretty powerful and effective weapons at our disposal in God. He wants us to keep asking for His strength to fight those battles, and to continue to confess and start over when we fail.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, keep convincing me that entering the war against our wrongful desires is worth it. Give me the power to win, and the humility to confess and start over when I lose. Thank You for the blessings that will follow. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.