Selfishness

Lately there has been a shift in my spirit, a tugging like I have never really grasped before. The tug has become an overpowering desire to shed my current skin and begin anew, just as a snake sheds its skin.

But what is my skin?

Laziness

Gluttony

A few times a year I get a real itch and desire to change. More than just New Year’s resolutions, I make all year resolutions of which rarely ever avail. I want to be a better homemaker but I’m terribly lazy…. I will start on a new path and do well, and then when I fail- I give up. Giving up then leads to feelings of worthlessness, regret, shame, etc. I want to be healthy and fuel my body with the right kinds of foods but after a while I again fail and quit, which I then replace with high amounts of bad things for me because I feel worthless, regretful, shameful, etc.

It’s a vicious cycle with me…. I make a change and a commitment only to give up and quit. I have somehow managed to believe that I am incapable of change and that I am damaged or a perpetual failure…. and when I try and fail it only furthers that idea about me.

Just a little while ago after watching TV instead of doing my morning devotions and opting for no food instead of healthy food because it would have taken too long to make I had a realization about why I am the way that I think I am- SELFISHNESS.

I know I am selfish in many areas, but these 2 big areas of failure for me I never connected to selfishness. As a wife, a mom, a Christian woman I am called to homemaking (Prov 31:27 NLT- She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness). Of course I also work full time outside of the home- but many moms do and still have time to tend to the home where their family lives. They make the time. I do not, or at least not consistently…. I desire and long for the ability to take care of things and stop being lazy but I find myself perched on the couch watching TV instead of getting things done. Sure I know that bathroom is nasty and the kitchen is a mess, but I’d rather watch Netflix. Sure I have a huge pile of clean clothes sitting on the floor needing to be folded that I could easily do while I sit on my butt and watch TV but I’ll do it tomorrow…. seemingly always tomorrow.

Then it comes to health…another blatant area of selfishness. When I put certain foods into my body, my body has negative reactions that affect the people around me; from lethargy to digestion woes and smells I know what to and not to eat in order to be most efficient, but sometimes I would rather just eat crap because 1) I’m lazy 2) it tastes good, but mostly 3) I’m selfish. I know that I am called to keep my health in balance and yet I purposefully ingest things that do harm, I am dishonoring my temple that God has given me (1 Cor 6:19-20-Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body; 1 Cor 10:23-24- You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. ; 1 Cor 10:31- So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.).

So after sitting here and writing this out, I am asking the question…how do I banish a life lived selfishly thus far? How do I rid myself of these defects so that I may be the person I deep down want to be? How do I stop believing the lies that I am a failure so that I can succeed? The thing is-I can’t. But He can… John 5:30- By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. Phil 4:13- I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

I have unknowingly held onto the notion that I can change these parts of myself that I know I cannot. I need spiritual intercession to shed this skin. I need renewal and transformation of the mind. I need a fresh anointing and I have been looking everywhere except towards the giver of life! So as I sit in awe at a realization that is likely blatantly obvious to many, my hope rises. I’m not a failure, I just haven’t allowed the Holy Spirit to give me strength and change me into who I am called to be, at least not in all areas…but I am now willing.

The Message (MSG) version gives me the perfect response on how to give it up and allow the Lord to change me….

Place Your Life Before God

Romans 12:1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Now I am off to some in-depth study and prayer to let go and let God!

-Miranda Embry

Bible Study on Psalms 107: The Saving Power of our Lord

David was one cool dude! His love for the Lord is admirable, and he was real. He had a lot of faults and God used him anyway. What a perfect example to show people that God loves us for us- His forgiveness is not contingent on our perfection, and He will use us if we allow Him to!

For this study we are looking at verses 1-32 only. This passage in Psalms is a great parallel to the saving power of the Lord and our calling to share the message. Let’s read it (sections are separated with italics due to formatting issues):

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

2 Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! others he has redeemed you from your enemies.

3 For he has gathered the exiles from many lands, from east and west, from north and south.

4 Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless.

5 Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died.

6 “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress.

7 He led them straight to safety, a city where they could live.

8 Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.

9 For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, imprisoned in iron chains of misery.

11 They rebelled against the words of God, scorning the counsel of the Most High.

12 That is why he broke them with hard labor; they fell, and no one was there to help them.

13 “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

14 He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; he snapped their chains.

15 Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.

16 For he broke down their prison gates of bronze; he cut apart their bars of iron.

17 Some were fools; they rebelled and suffered for their sins.

18 They couldn’t stand the thought of food, and they were knocking on death’s door.

19 “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

20 He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.

21 Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.

22 Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about his glorious acts.

23 Some went off to sea in ships, plying the trade routes of the world.

24 They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action, his impressive works on the deepest seas.

25 He spoke, and the winds rose, stirring up the waves.

26 Their ships were tossed to the heavens and plunged again to the depths; the sailors cringed in terror.

27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits’ end.

28 “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

29 He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves.

30 What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor!

31 Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.

32 Let them exalt him publicly before the congregation and before the leaders of the nation.

We are going to look at each section of scripture broken out individually here:

In the first section (verses 1-3) David is asking have we been redeemed. If we have, he is telling us clearly to speak out about it and to give thanks! Is this not what we are called to do; to thank the Lord for our salvation and to share the message to a hurt and dying world? His reference in verse 3 epitomizes the collective ability for all to be saved “For he has gathered the exiles from many lands, from east and west, from north and south.” We can take the word “exiles” here to mean people who were cast out from a society, people who are shunned for their faults or sins; essentially these are the people who are not saved and living a life of sin and death. Yet God has called them, the exiles, He has called us- all of us! He has brought us from the place of exile into the Kingdom of Heaven where we are set free from the life of sin and death.

In the second section (verses 4-9) Davi is referring to the wilderness. We know that there are many biblical references to the “wilderness.” Here are some secular definitions of wilderness: an uncultivated, uninhabited, and inhospitable region; a neglected or abandoned area; a position of disfavor. Can you tell based on these examples that wilderness can mean a variety of things, but that the essential point is a state of separation; especially separation from God? This wilderness biblically has also been referred to as a place of testing (Jesus wet through this form of wilderness during the 40 days of testing). In almost all of the stories involving wilderness it seems that the common theme is a place of growth, loneliness, testing, and a point of separation- for a time. In verses 4-6 here we see David is addressing the lost, the hungry and the thirsty. They are nearly to the point of death before they cry out to the Lord for help. How many times have we felt lost, separated from God, or confused…how many times have we struggled in trials and tribulations and suffered spiritual distress? In these times what helps us to overcome is asking God for help and thanking Him for His redemption!

The third section is comprised of verses 10-16. David is calling out the depressed and the ones who are filled with misery and self-pity. Many of us struggle with depression, gloom, doom, and misery from time to time. Some struggle with it more and some less. When we get to the point where we would rather wallow in the sadness and allow ourselves to go further and further into the black hole without doing something about it, we become a slave to it. We are trapped and shackled against the walls in our mind and the traps of the devil. But there are things we can do and in this section one of them, and the most powerful thing, is to cry out to the Lord for help giving thanks for His power. And when we do, He will set us free.

Section four speaks to the rebels; the ones who deliberately go against God and seek after their flesh rather than His Spirit. “They couldn’t stand the thought of food…” I do not believe David was referencing physical food here but rather the Spiritual Manna that comes from the Lord (People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God –Matthew 4:4). If we are in a state of rebellion naturally we do not want to take in the bread of life. Whether it is from guilt and shame, selfish desire; no matter what the reason, without this food we will suffer! And the wonderful theme reiterated here is they cried out to the Lord for help and were grateful He saved them; and He set them free.

The final section, section 5 (verses 23-32) speaks to me about our times of stormy weather; the times where we are battling and fighting to keep our heads above water, the times where it feels like we will be swallowed whole and overcome by the sea of difficulty. However, even though the storms were great they cried out to the Lord for help. He calmed the storms, and set them free. They were instructed to bring praises for the wonder of the saving power of the Lord, and as was directed in the first section, the final section closes telling them to share the message.

What can we derive from this story as a whole? No matter what is going on in our lives, whether we have been condemned by others, lost in a time of testing, suffering with depression and despair, rebelling against God’s will and word, or battling a raging storm; the common theme for being set free is to ask the Lord for help, to thank Him and praise Him for His power and redemption, and to share the message with others. Is this not a simplistic way to look at our purpose as a Christian? What do you think?

Miranda Embry

(we do not own the rights to this photo)

Bible Study on Adultery

Are you committing adultery? Your first response will likely be: “of course not, I have never been unfaithful to my spouse,” or if you are single perhaps “nope not me I am not married.” Either way, whatever your response it doesn’t really matter. I am speaking on a different kind of adultery- spiritual adultery.

We are considered the bride of Christ. He is to be first and foremost in our lives; above our spouse, above our kids, above our jobs and our worries…is He first in your life or are you putting something else first? Whatever we put before God is an idol; it becomes in essence a God. The first and foremost in our lives is what we cling to, rely on, and pursue most intently. If this is not God, then you are not being faithful.

What does the Word say?

Exodus 20:3 (NLT) “You must not have any other god but me.”

Exodus 34:14 (GWT) “Never worship any other god, because the LORD is a God who does not tolerate rivals. In fact, he is known for not tolerating rivals.”

Matthew 22:37 (NLT) “Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.”

Think about what Jesus said in Matthew for a moment. If there are people or things that you have placed before God, then you cannot adhere to the most important command we are given. It is impossible! To love God first in our lives means we have to rely on Him, we have to die to ourselves daily, we have to crucify our cares and our sin to follow Jesus. What is the predominance of your thought? You can quickly tell if God is first based on this alone. Do you think more about your spouse, your kids, yourself…or do you think more about your relationship with Jesus and ministering to others?

No one is perfect, we all know that. But the point of being a Christian is to try daily to be Christlike. Jesus is our example. If we are avidly seeking His will above all else, and we are faithful in our marriage to Him, the rest of our lives will fall into place!

Proverbs 3:5-6 (HCSB) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding;
⁶ think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.”

Search your hearts today, as I have to do every day. Who or what is first in your life? If it isn’t God then repent, ask for help, and commit to living for Him. He will guide you and take care of the rest of your life, put your trust in Him and experience freedom. He must be our first love!

Miranda Embry

Bible Study: Pitfall of Distraction

In the age we are living in it seems there is nothing but distraction. Our focus changes from one thing to the next to the next, never fully resting for a period of time. This is a huge issue in the church today. Satan uses distraction to get our focus off of Jesus and on to anything else that comes along. When I think about what distraction really is, to me it is a spiritual malady, a demonic influence to cause separation from our walk with God.

Every night when I am saying my prayers, random thought after thought pops up and off my mind goes on bunny trails… I have to constantly repent, rebuke, and resume my praying. Truth be told, distraction comes easier than intent focus on God. It takes work to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. It goes against our flesh to focus.

Definitions of distraction:

1. a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else
2. extreme agitation of the mind or emotions

What does the bible say about distraction?

Proverbs 4:25-27 (NLT)

25 Look straight ahead,

and fix your eyes on what lies before you.

26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;

stay on the safe path.

27 Don’t get sidetracked;

keep your feet from following evil.

Luke 10:38-42 (NLT)

38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

1 Corinthians 7:35 (NLT)

35 I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.

Each of these verses offers powerful insight into the pitfall of distraction. In Proverbs we are warned not to get sidetracked from walking with God which will lead to evil. In Luke we are shown that when we focus on the details of life too much we miss the focus of who is life, Jesus. In 1 Corinthians we are told that when we are given ample amount of instructions it is not to hurt us, but to help us fix our eyes on serving the Lord.

We are a society that is so consumed with what’s next that it is virtually impossible to stay in today. Our minds are trained to move so quickly, taking in only partial information, and focusing on an end rather than the means to the end. As Christians it is our duty to slow down and truly walk with Jesus. Our focus should be on serving Him and reaching the hurt and dying world. Our prayer life and bible studies shouldn’t be a hurried time where we block a few minutes to devote to God; we need to make our devotion to Him first and slot out time for everything else afterwards.

I have noticed this in my daily life just how easy it is to focus on the bills, the work, the TV shows; everything that could take me away from doing what it is I am called to do in the Lord. I am called to prayer, to reading and meditating on His word, to serving and loving others, to share the message of Jesus; if I am focusing on the distractions of life, how can I do these things? Another verse that I have to cling to when I find myself in the pitfall of distraction: Matthew 6:33 (NLT)- “33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Worry, stress, doubt, etc. etc….these are all signs not only of distraction, but of lacking trust in the Lord. We are called to trust Him, Proverbs 3:5 (NLT) clearly relays this message: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” Trust is another principle we are called to do, when we do not trust in Him that is sin!

This is all well and fine, but how to we break the influence and trap of distraction so that we can put our focus and trust in God?

REPENT OF DISTRACTION, REBUKE THE DEVIL, READ THE WORD, PRAY INTENTIONALLY, GET OUT OF YOURSELF AND HELP SOMEONE, SACRIFICE YOUR SELFISHNESS!

1. Romans 12:1 (NLT) “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”

2. Luke 9:23 (NLT) “Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”

3. Luke 12:30 (NLT) “These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs.”

4. Matthew 10:38-39 (MSG) “If you don’t go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don’t deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me.”

5. James 4:7 (NLT) “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

6. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (AMP) “14 If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”

7. 2 Corinthians 4:5 (NLV) “5 We do not preach about ourselves. We preach Christ Jesus the Lord. We are your servants because of Jesus.”

8. Joshua 1:8 (NLT) “8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”

All of the answers to this question, and any other question can be found in the word of God. It is our instruction manual, our tangible guide on earth to lead us in righteousness; it is a visible manifestation of our invisible God. I challenge you today to look at your life and take an honest self-appraisal. Where are the areas of distraction that need to be surrendered to God? What areas are hindering you from freedom in Jesus? Pray and ask God to reveal these shortcomings. Rebuke the devil and stand firm in the word of God. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you strength to overcome distraction. It will likely not be an instantaneous change, but when our fallacy is brought to light it begins the healing process and revelation to avoid falling in the trap again.

Miranda Embry

Bible Study: Shine Bright

I found this awesome site yesterday when I did not have my paper bible handy, that every time you refresh the page it gives you a random bible verse; the techy “pray and flip” method (dailyverses.net/random-bible-verse)! Today my verse was Luke 8:16- No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house; what an awesome way to start the day!

As soon as I read this verse I was inspired by it as a topic for today. That precious light of God that comes from having a relationship with Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit is in each of us on the day of salvation. It is our duty as Christians to let that light shine bright! Matthew 5:16 says-“ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”; these words were spoken by Jesus Himself!

So just what does it mean to let your light shine bright? This light we are referencing is Jesus and Jesus is life. John 8:12- Then spoke Jesus again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. Walking in the light is walking in the life that Jesus died for us to have, it is the shining of our faith to a hurt and dying world, and it is our witness to righteousness. Our light is the new life of a Christian. Ephesians 5:8-10 is the perfect example of what it means to have the light of Christ: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light— for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth—discerning what is pleasing to the Lord.” You will know when your light is shining bright because the fruits of a life lived in the Spirit will be evident in your life. Refer back to verse 9 of Ephesians 5: “goodness, righteousness and truth”; these are a product of being children of light. To take it further let’s read Galatians 5:22-23- “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

Our understanding of spiritual truth comes from continued perseverance in our faith and the more we grow the more will be revealed. We will all struggle (Romans 8:23- For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard) but our struggles do not hide this light. Our light is hidden when we are not seeking the Lord, growing in our faith, reading-praying-praising. If we are actively seeking Him there is no way that our light can be hidden!

This light, this life that is pleasing to the Lord and reflects His ways are critically important as a Christian. We may be the only bible some people see and our lives are to reflect Jesus. We are called to be Christ-like. We are called to a Great Commission (Matthew 28:19a- Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations…) and part of this process is allowing the light of Jesus shine bright.

Miranda Embry

This Little Light Of Mine Hymn

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Won’t let Satan blow it out.

I’m gonna let it shine.

Won’t let Satan blow it out.

I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Let it shine til Jesus comes.

I’m gonna let it shine.

Let it shine til Jesus comes.

I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel – NO!

I’m gonna let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel – NO!

I’m gonna let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Let it shine over the whole wide world,

I’m gonna let it shine.

Let it shine over the whole wide world,

I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

NOTE: This is a mini-study on basic principles, more in-depth studies geared to mature Christians are available upon request

Bible Study: Being a New Creation

This is no new topic, but as I was sitting on my couch mindlessly watching TV last night, 2 simple verses popped into my head…

Genesis 1:3-4 (NLT): Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness.

I immediately thought to myself, even in the very beginning of beginnings we learn that God declares the light and creates the separation from darkness. Of course this was talking about actual creation, but it spoke to me about another creation…the transformation of us as a new creation in Christ!

2 Corinthians 4:6 says (NLT): For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

And furthermore, 2 Corinthians 5:17(a) confirms this (NIV): Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

WOW! Is that confirmation or what? Just like in the beginning when God declared light to separate darkness, so has He declared the light that comes from Jesus to separate us from darkness! As a believer in Jesus as Lord, we have been made into new creations; we have been separated from a life of darkness. The light of the Holy Spirit resides within us and just as God said in Genesis that the light was good, by the blood of Jesus He has also declared that the light which shines within us is good.

Ephesians 5:8-9 (NLT): For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

Allow the light that resides in you to produce what is good, remember that as a believer you have been separated from darkness; this light produces only what is good so allow it to sink in that YOU ARE A NEW CREATION! No matter what storm or battle or insecurity you may be facing today, focus on the truth of that comes from your walk with the Lord.

Miranda Embry

Bible Study: Being a Living Sacrifice

Simply put, we sacrifice ourselves by living for God each day; by making the commitment to follow Him, to share in His burdens and to let go of our selfishness in favor of His commands.

Our guidance comes from the word of God. Our thoughts and actions help determine if we are in God’s will and are living as a sacrifice. Our desire and action to seek His will above all else and to live righteously is being a living sacrifice. The promise in seeking His will and living righteously is that He will give us everything we need, and I repeat, everything we need (Matthew 6:33).

 

How do we become living sacrifices daily?

1. Praise His name and pray without ceasing (Psalms 61:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:17):

In addition to the fact that both Praise and prayer aid in our ability not to give into the temptation of sin (Luke 22:40), both are sacrifices of our time.

2. Follow the examples of righteous living:

Romans 12, Colossians 3:1-17, Ephesians 4:17-6:18 are some perfect examples to start with!

3. Serve others! Serving others is one of the ways that we can be a living sacrifice. We have been called to serve others:

Mark 10:35-45, Galatians 5:13, just to name a couple of scriptural references

When we are doing these things we are dying to ourselves and we are living as sacrifices!

 

Miranda Embry

NOTE: This is only a mini-study for introduction to biblical principle purposes

Bible Study: Recognize, Repent, & Regroup

All scripture in the NLT unless otherwise noted

RECOGNIZE – REPENT – REGROUP:
Letting Go and Letting God to stay on the FREEWAY of Righteous Christian Living

Struggling with willful sinning I began to feel completely out of touch in my walk with God however I did not stay in a state of self-pity allowing the enemy to condemn me, but rather I accepted the conviction of the Holy Spirit and got back on the freeway…

This was the topic that God laid on my heart when I stopped beating myself up long enough to hear Him as I was lying in bed praying one night, but until I was ready to fully LET GO and LET GOD, I was unable to allow the inspiration to flow pen to paper. It is amazing what happens when I get out of the way and let God be in charge…my life changes- for His glory! This study is the process that enabled me to let go and let God and get back on the freeway of Christian living.
1) RECOGNIZE: A realization when a Christian is reverting back to the ways of the world, his former carnal self, engaged in willful sin, and feeling the tug of the heartstrings when we are wrong, also known as the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
2) REPENT: The point at which the Christian decides to ask for forgiveness and help to overcome the sin and guilt; the point at which the Christian is tired of being beaten down by their ungodly choices and desire to be renewed by the Blood of Jesus. This is the letting go.
3) REGROUP: This is the step that takes us back on the freeway of righteous Christian living that is pleasing to God and is evident by the fruits of the Spirit in the life of the Christian. This is the letting God.

Now, let’s break this down further…
RECOGNIZE- Key passage: Romans 7:14-25
14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[d] I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22
I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power[e] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Understanding that everyone sins is key to accepting our own shortcomings. The bible teaches that we will struggle with sin. The key is not to allow the condemnation (which comes from the enemy, not God- Romans 8:1-So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.) to keep us in that sin. The Word says that all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23-For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.)! When we can realize that sin is a battle we will all struggle with, we can take comfort that our God will never leave us nor forsake us if we belong to Him. The key passage for this portion teaches us that our sinful nature is not what our spiritual nature wants; it is the carnal nature that we must constantly battle. When we were under the law of sin we were ruled by the spirit of the world. As a believer in Christ Jesus we are no longer ruled by the world, but by the Spirit of God. The enemy will continuously try and tempt us into sinning and falling away from the freedom that comes through Christ and cause us to slip into disobedience. When we do fall short of God’s glory and give in to our sinful nature the enemy will use guilt and condemnation to make us feel that we are separated from God’s love; yet take heart! The word teaches us that nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38: And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. ).

When we can recognize that we are in sin the next step is to repent and ask God to forgive us and help us to regroup and return to righteous living. The word teaches that when we put our faith in Jesus, God declares our righteousness. Romans 3:22-26-23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

REPENT-Key passage: Acts 3:19-20
19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. 20 Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.

After we have identified and accepted our sin by the conviction (remember, not condemnation) of the Holy Spirit we are called to action. The action here is the repentance of the sin that has placed us in a position of bondage and purposing our hearts to turn away from the carnal nature. It is the decision to be cleansed and the decision of LETTING GO.

In the process of repentance I have dealt with many attacks that have hindered my allowance of letting go. The 2 primary lies that the enemy tries to use against me are (1) that I do not deserve God’s grace and (2) that it is too hard to get back on track after whatever sin I have been engaging in (big or small). But what does the word of God say about these lies?
(1) I do not deserve God’s grace
Ephesians 1:6-7: So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

Daniel 9:7-9: Lord, you are in the right; but as you see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us, including the people of Judah and Jerusalem and all Israel, scattered near and far, wherever you have driven us because of our disloyalty to you. 8 O Lord, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you. 9 But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.

Titus 3:4-8: But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” 8This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.

The truth is- we do not deserve God’s grace. God’s grace is a gift of mercy, not a reward for acts. By the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross, we have been given grace and mercy to wash away our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness, therefore as a believer in Christ Jesus the word tells me that I AM FORGIVEN!

(2) It is too hard to get back on track
Philippians 4:13: For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Isaiah 40:29-31: He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. 30 Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. 31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10: Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

When in repentance, asking for the Spirit of God to help give us strength to overcome is letting go of our will and allowing God’s will to be done, it is allowing His power to move in our lives. Given that we all have free will, it is the asking that makes the Spirit of God move in our lives. Each scripture reference has one thing in common- ASK!

Matthew 7:7-8: Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 21:22 (NIV): If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

John 14:13-14: You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

1 John 3:22: And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.

1 John 5:14-15: And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

Making the declaration of repentance is our commitment to change and our affirmation of rededication. In our confession the word says the He is faithful and just to (1) forgive and (2) cleanse us (1 John 1:8-9: If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.). In the act of submission we are resisting the ways of the world by the power of the Holy Spirit and scripture tells us that the enemy WILL FLEE (James 4:7-8: So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.).

Whatever lie that the enemy may try and put on us when we are at the decision of repentance, if we stand firm on what the word of God says we are more than able to regroup and walk boldly hand in hand with the Lord.

REGROUP- Key passage: 2 Peter 1:3-11
3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. 10 So, dear brothers and sisters,[c] work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 11 Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So after recognizing our sins, repenting of our sins and asking God to give us the power to change-what does it mean to regroup? Simply put- regroup is the step where we get back on track to righteous Christian living through the power of the Holy Spirit by LETTING GOD work.

We have learned that all fall short of the glory of God yet are declared righteous when we place our faith and belief in Jesus.
Romans 3:22-26: We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

We have learned that all will struggle with sin because of our innate human nature.
Romans 7: 14-25: So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[d] I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power[e] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

We have learned that the confession of our sin brings the forgiveness for the sins.
1 John 1:9: But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

All of this leads us to life in the Spirit (righteous Christian living) and ultimate freedom from a life of sin– living on the freeway and walking in the will of God.
Romans 8:2: And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
Galatians 5:1: So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

Guidance for staying on the freeway- Living in the Spirit
The bible is the ultimate guide for Christian living. It is the sacred guidance divinely inspired to assist and grow the Kingdom of God, but given the fact that the bible is gigantic- let’s look at 2 passages that I cling to as continual guidance for living the life that keeps me in the will of God:
Colossians 3:1-17:
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your[a] life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. 5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.[b] 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile,[c] circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized,[d] slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. 12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

 Ephesians 4:17-5:20:
4 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. 25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”[d] Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. 28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own,[e] guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
5 God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us[a] and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. 10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,
“Awake, O sleeper,
    rise up from the dead,
    and Christ will give you light.”
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

These 2 passages give basic examples of what to avoid and what to have in regards to Christian living and how to stay on the freeway of life.
WHAT TO AVOID: lying, anger, stealing, abusive/foul language, bitterness, rage, slander, greed, lust
WHAT TO HAVE: mercy, humility, kindness, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, honesty, and above all else- love. The action portions of both passages are to work diligently in all that we do as if we are working for the Lord, sing praises and hymns in worship to God, pray continuously, and to engage in counsel and teaching each other for the edification of the Kingdom of God

When we are walking in the character traits above, we are walking in God’s will. For the will of God will produce only good fruit. The fruit that every Christian produces is the evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in their lives. What are good fruits – what does the bible say about bearing fruit?
John 15:4, 8: 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 8When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

Galatians 5:22-23: But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Philippians 1:11: May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Colossians 1:10: Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

Of course walking in the fruits of the Spirit and the character traits that we have been called to as a Christian can be a tall order at times…it is  through constant prayer, reading of the word, and sharing the good news that we will maintain the fruits.

When we fall into temptation and give in to sin, which we all will; recognize it, repent of it (LET GO), and regroup (LET GOD) to stay on the Freeway of righteous Christian Living!

Miranda Embry