DAY SEVENTEEN | Protect yourself now

WELCOME TO DAY SEVENTEEN | PROTECT YOURSELF NOW

ROMANS 6 : 13 – And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin.

This is an important principle in overcoming the things in our lives that cause us to stumble. We so often bemoan the fact that we consistently give in to certain temptations and feel helpless to overcome them. This verse gives us the first real step toward victory in our lives. Stop going to the refrigerator and then complaining of being overweight. Stop going to the wrong movies and then complaining about your wrong thoughts. Stop watching television and then saying you get nothing done. Stop speaking badly to one another and then realising there is no love left. Stop criticising everyone and then lamenting your lack of friends.It is a simple principle.

DO NOT PRESENT YOURSELF to the thing you do not want to do. Now be careful to realise the difference between; The WANT OF DESIRE and the WANT OF DISCIPLINE. You see the “want of desire” wants it now. It is important to have it to satisfy a present need. However the “want of discipline” sees a bigger picture and knows that success lies in abstaining from the present “want of desire” for a bigger reward yet to come.

Only those people who can stay focussed on the bigger reward will choose not to “present themselves now” but rather will “protect themselves now” for tomorrows prize of greatness. Learn to protect yourself now from some small indiscretion so that you can present yourself tomorrow for some greater and higher achievement in life.

If you do find yourself presenting to the same indiscretion, then create a roadblock between you and the point of failure, so that you can be reminded of the greater glory to come. For example, put a photo of your “thin self” on the refrigerator so that you see it every time you “present yourself” for a snack. Or put something on top of the TV that reminds you of the job you promised to do. You get the picture.

If you do not stop “presenting yourself” you will never stop failing.

PRACTICAL

1. identify your fault lines – or areas of weakness in which you consistently fail.

2. Get help to construct roadblocks to those areas so that you are warned by someone or something before yielding to them.

3. Write down the reasons why you are not willing to address such areas – and if necessary seek professional help.

4. You can never overcome fault lines on your own. Get a close friend or your connect group at church to help you.

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