Our perspective on constant temptations can color the way we see ourselves. But we can learn to view our path toward holiness in light of God’s mercy. Imagine a panicked family member waking you in the night. You must follow them immediately. Your high-rise apartment building is unsafe. Collapse may be imminent. You join the […]
Failure: Learn how to overcome persistent sin
Persistent sin defies logic and reason. It short circuits common sense. We will rationalize, minimize, and explain away to whatever degree is necessary our “darling sins.”
Breaking free of that deadly pattern requires a power greater than our will, stronger than our resilience, and more trustworthy than our self-directed promises.
From Thomas Brooks’ Precious Remedies against Satan’s Devices, here are six truths that counter our failure to conquer persistent sin. Satan uses our weakness to discourage us. But that’s when God’s strength is made perfect.
What do I do when my feelings don’t match my faith?
You’re at church on a Sunday morning. People around you raise their hands as they sing from their hearts. You see expressions of heartfelt joy on their faces. And you long to experience these feelings with them. But it’s just not there. You talk with a Christian friend, updating each other on your lives. A […]
Six qualities of a spiritual warrior
Look into the heart and soul of a Christian. You’ll see how God has uniquely equipped the spiritual warrior for a lifelong battle against sin. A computer. A car. An appliance. Examine an object’s structure and makeup, and you’ll learn what it was made for. What lies inside reveals the thing’s purpose. Lacking the particular […]
What is true grace?
In every other article before this one, we’ve found a way to reword the “remedies” Thomas Brooks offers to counteract Satan’s devices. In this article, we’re going to concentrate on Brooks’ definitions and explanations of true grace instead. We could easily devote an entire blog – not just one post, but the whole thing – […]
Suffering: Why does a loving God allow it?
We must remember what Job asked his wife in the midst of unspeakable suffering: “Should we only accept good from God and not adversity?” Do we dare assume God owes his children a life of ease, freedom from suffering, and avoidance of pain? Will we refuse to consider he has greater purposes in mind for the darkness that sometimes obscures his light?
Faith: an inconceivable reality
Satan wants us to think that if we do not have the most fully developed, fully assured faith in Christ and in his forgiveness of our sins, we don’t really have it at all. He wants us to believe there are no degrees of faith, no growth, no development over time. Either we are fully […]
