Have you ever tried to throw away an old bad habit…or a self-defeating addiction?

Someone said that the best way to break a bad habit is to drop it.
If we don’t break that bad habit or addiction-
– it will have a way of breaking us!

So how do we break that bad habit and/or a self-defeating addiction?

First, we need to admit-
– that we have a problem and that it has us beaten.

The only person God or anyone else can ever help is the one who admits, “I have a problem. I need help”—and genuinely means it and is prepared to do something about it.

Bad habits and addictions rarely, if ever, leave us without a battle.

Second, we need to avoid-
– playing the blame-game at all costs and accept full responsibility for our actions and our recovery.

We need to realize that bad habits and especially addictions are a means to medicate some inner problem or pain that we have never faced, dealt with and resolved.

Bad habits and addictions are almost always the “fruit of a deeper root.”

Third, we need to ask-
– for qualified help, be it a support/recovery group and/or that of a qualified counsellor/therapist.

We need this support in order to keep us accountable and to help us stop acting out our addiction and thereby medicating (deadening) the pain.

To heal it we need to feel it.
Medicating it stops us from facing and resolving it.

Fourth, we need to allow-
God to handle the root cause.

Many people beg God to deliver them from their destructive symptoms but never think to realize that they need to pray that God will confront them with the reality of the cause or causes that drives them to act out in destructive habits and/or addictions.

It is only as we face and confront the truth behind our destructive habits that we have any chance of recovery.

When we are hiding a deeper sin or fault we tend to confess a lesser one all the more vigorously.

That is; instead of confessing the cause/causes of our behaviour we get obsessed with and confess only the symptom.

This tends to reinforce the addiction rather than overcome it because whatever the mind dwells on, the body acts on.

When we pray for truth and genuinely mean it, God always answers.
Once we see the truth (cause) of our problem, we usually know what we need to do about resolving it.

As God’s Word says, “The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth” (Ps 145:18).

(PR)

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“God…made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6).

The New Testament clearly reveals that Christ’s power and authority over Satan and his kingdom-
– have been conferred to those of us who are in Christ.

In Ephesians 2:4-6, Paul explains that when Christ was raised from the dead, those of us who have believed in Him were also resurrected from our condition of spiritual death and made alive “together with Christ.”

It’s only logical that the head (Christ) and the body (His church) should be raised together.

Furthermore, when God seated Christ at His right hand and conferred on Him all authority (Ephesians 1:20, 21) –

He also seated us at His right hand and conferred on us through Christ all authority because we are “together with Christ.”

The moment you receive Christ-
– you take possession of what God did for you 2000 years ago.

Your identity as a child of God and your authority over spiritual powers-
– are not things you are receiving or will receive at some time in the future; you have them right now.

You are a spiritually-alive child of God right now.
You are seated in the heavenlies with Christ right now.
You have power and authority over the kingdom of darkness right now!

We have the authority because of our position in Christ.
And we have the power when we are filled with the Holy Spirit.

Paul also related this life-changing truth in his letter to the Colossians:
“In Him [Christ] you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.” (Colossians 2:10).

Notice again that the action is past:
We have been made complete.

When?
At the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.
And since Christ is the God-appointed head over all rule and authority,
– and since we are seated with Him in the heavenlies,
– we have the authority and power to live responsible lives.

May God help you live responsibly, claim your position as His child, and grow to full stature in Him.

(PR)

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If you need victory in your thought life- You must depend on the Spirit’s power to control your thoughts! Here is what the Scriptures have to say on that point:

“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God (the indwelling Holy Spirit) … bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor 10:4, 5).

Only the Spirit of God can make this possible in our lives! And He does it only when we are under His complete control. When an evil thought comes to your mind
– What are you to do? You should turn it over to the Spirit and ask Him to take charge!

It is the only method that works for me! I cannot help it when a thought comes, whether it is good or bad. I do not, however, have to dwell on that thought.

So the moment a wrong thought comes, I ask the Holy Spirit to take over, for that is His responsibility. When I give Him control, He gives me victory! In I Thessalonians 5:17, we are told to pray without ceasing. Can we possibly do that?

Only by letting the Holy Spirit control us. As He dwells in us and we continue to give Him control so that no sin hinders His working in our hearts, He reminds us of the things He wants us to pray about. And He also helps us in the praying.

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26). So –
“…be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Eph. 4:23).

Mind your mind!

(PR)

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For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) (1 Corinthians 15:27).

God has given us kingdom authority! Jesus said: “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).

When problems get over your head- Remember they are under His feet! You need not be discouraged when troubles strike. It is the pathway your Saviour has walked before you. It is the way of the cross! And He has won the victory!!

Write down the hardest thing you’re having to deal with now! Put that paper on the floor. Look down on it. Now you have a glimpse of God’s vantage point over the problems in your life!

“And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen” (Romans 16:20).

(PR)

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“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

How do eagles feel in cages in zoos?
These magnificent birds are designed to soar to the heights of mountaintops.
Do they get frustrated?
Are they fulfilled?

Too many of us, who were also designed to reach our total God-given human and spiritual potential-
– are trapped in a cage of our own or of another’s making.

We fail to resolve the problems in our life that hold us back.
We may have been wounded in the past.

But God wants us to be healed
– to be made whole,
– to be free to fly, and
– to soar like the eagles.

We have a choice:
We can scratch in the dirt with the turkeys.
Or we can soar in the sky like the eagles!

We can wait (seek after and hope) in the Lord God.
And rise up to fly with the eagles to the heights that God envisioned for us to reach.

May God help us to wait on Him to renew our strength so that-
– with His help, we will see our God-given life purpose and ‘fly’ to reach the full potential He has planned for us to achieve.

(PR)

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“I am with you, and no man shall set on you to hurt you” (Acts 18:10). 

So long as the Lord had work for Paul to do in Corinth-
– the fury of the mob was restrained.
The Jews opposed and blasphemed.

But they could neither stop the preaching of the gospel nor the conversion of the hearers.
God has power over the most violent minds.

He makes the wrath of man to praise Him when it breaks forth.
But He still more displays His goodness when He restrains it; and He can restrain it.

“By the greatness of Your arm They will be as still as a stone, Till Your people pass over, O LORD, Till the people pass over Whom You have purchased” (Exodus 15:16).

Do not, therefore, feel any fear of man-
– when you know that you are doing your duty.

Go straight on, as Jesus would have done.
And those who oppose shall be as a bruised reed and as smoking flax.

Many a time men have had cause to fear because they were themselves afraid.
But a dauntless faith in God brushes fear aside like the cobwebs in a lion’s path.

No man can harm us unless the Lord permits.
He who makes the devil himself to flee at a word-
– can certainly control the devil’s agents also!

Maybe they are already-
– more afraid of you
– than you are of them.

Where you looked to meet with foes you will find friends!

(PR)

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“Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” (Philippians 2:9-10)

Once you make up your mind to keep the commands of Jesus,
– and begin to allow the Word to dwell in you richly-
– the Name of Jesus will become far more powerful to you.

It will become more than just a word.
It will become a force that will cause every circumstance and every demon that tries to stand in your way to bow its knee to your command.

The Name of Jesus works!
There is far greater power in it than any of us have yet realized.

Your faith should be set on the authority of the Name of Jesus that-
– when you just say, “In the Name of Jesus” and the power of God will come on the scene.

The Name of Jesus–just the Name alone–
– is effective when spoken by a Word-abiding believer.

Revelation 19:13 says the Name of Jesus is the Word of God!
So, when the devil is trying to bring any trouble or any garbage into my life-
– I don’t have to quote every scripture I know to stop him.

I can just point my finger at him and say, “Jesus!”
That’s like throwing the whole Word of God in his face at one time!

Discover for yourself what the highly exalted Name can do.
Begin to speak it with confidence and authority.

There is power in the Name of Jesus!

(PR)

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“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19)

The word “power” is repeated twice in the above verse.
But it has two different meanings.

The first “power” is from the Greek word exousia and it has the meaning of authority.
The second “power” is from the Greek word dunamis.

We get the English word for “dynamite” from this word.
Jesus gives us authority over the force of the enemy.
We cannot defeat the devil with strength.
We can defeat him with our God-given authority.

Is Satan wiser than you?
Yes, with a perverted wisdom!

Is he stronger than you?
Yes, with a malevolent strength!

Is Satan more powerful than you?
Yes, but you can stop him when you stand against him-
– with the authority God has given you.

And he knows that!
When you begin to fight your battles-
– not in your strength,
– but in God’s strength,
– then you are going to see Satan begin to cower before you!

Because-
“…the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world”.
The authority of the Almighty is available to you!

(PR)

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The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (Rom 16:20)

This promise follows well upon that of yesterday. We are evidently to be conformed to our covenant Head, not only in

His being bruised in His heel but in His conquest of the evil one.

Even under our feet is the old dragon to be bruised. The archenemy tripped up the feet of the unwary and deceived the hearts of the simple; but he was to get the worst of it and to be trodden down by those whom he had troubled.

This victory would not come to the people of God through their own skill or power; but God Himself would bruise Satan. Though it would be under their feet, yet the bruising would be of the Lord alone.

Let us bravely tread upon the tempter! Not only inferior spirits but the prince of darkness himself must go down before us. In unquestioning confidence in God let us look for speedy victory.
“Shortly.”

Shortly, we shall set our foot on the old serpent!
What a joy to crush evil! What dishonor to Satan to have his head bruised by human feet!

Let us by faith in Jesus tread the tempter down!

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. (Luke 10:19 ESV)

(PR)

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I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed. I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet. (Psa 18:37-38)

If you’ve been standing around wringing your hands and worrying about what the devil is doing, it’s time you made a switch. It’s time you put that devil under your feet!

Jesus has already given you all the power and authority you need to do it.
He’s given you the keys of the kingdom.

He’s promised you that whatever you declare locked on earth is locked in heaven and whatever you declare unlocked on earth is unlocked in the heavenlies (Matt 16:19).

“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).

That means you can speak the Word and bind wicked spirits. You can speak the Word and loose the angelic forces of God to work in your behalf.

You’ve been given the Power of Attorney that enables you to use the mighty Name of Jesus!
A Name that’s above every other name. A Name which will cause every knee to bow–in heaven, in earth, and under the earth! (Phil. 2:9-10)

Don’t waste time worrying about the devil!

Take authority over him. Bind the evil spirits that try to destroy your home, your church, your mission and your nation. Loose God’s Word in the earth and enforce it with the Name of Jesus.

You hold the keys! Learn to use them and before long the devil will be wringing his hands
worrying about you!

Now-
Speak the Word of God to work on your behalf!

(PR)

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