2 Peter 2 20-22 NIV
If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”
If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”
Beloved,
The scriptures above describe what is known as a backslider, a person that relapses to bad habits.
Habits are the patterns that were established in our lives before Christ, and keep us from experiencing sobriety in our Christian walk.
Habits are formed through many avenues in our lives, ranging from conception to birth. However, they do not have to have dominion over us.
You can master them, and not end up worse off than before, by simply exposing your weaknesses to GOD with a sincere heart.
Yes, Beloved, GOD knows these things about us already, because he is all knowing. With that said, you have a conscious and a subconscious that do not walk in agreement with one another.
Confession is a must.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Both do not have your best interest at heart. One will tell you that you can take a drink, or smoke this one time, or go to this party and so on, but then it turns into a habit. Too much liberty to your flesh, and now your old addiction is back in play. Your conscious is in denial, and your subconscious that acts as your hard drive, has you reacting to situations that in time past you were in control of; you’re cursing and arguing over trivial things.
And just like that you have strayed. You are wallowing in the mud of your yesterdays, and you’re living as if you have not known the goodness of the LORD. You are going back to what you gave up, just like the dog eating, vomiting, and then regurgitating what was laid out by his master.
It does not take much for these things to happen. Tragedy is an open door, constant disappointment by people or circumstances are open doors. And the next thing you know, your Faith is depleted by different entities that enable your immoral behavior.
It is permissible to have emotions, but is not beneficial to be entwined with your former thoughts, and behaviors. This is a sure sign that your heart is changing towards the righteousness of the LORD.
A relapse causes you to add to your list of things that need to be resurrected.
Let me assure you that nothing is impossible for those that believe, but your Faith is constantly being attacked by your mind when you backslide. You begin to wonder, did the conversion ever take place?
By GOD’s WORD the conversion took place, but you turned your back on the sacred command, which is, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Luke 10:27)
When the big bad wolf came to huff and puff and blow your house down, using all forms of calamity, you did not rely on the ROCK, which is the sure foundation of your Faith. Jesus Christ!
You did not look to Love, but instead to the world for comfort. You did not trust GOD to keep his WORD.
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Nothing but the LOVE of GOD can heal all of your wounds, hidden and seen, old and new.
God does not change. His WORD is everlasting, and he is merciful.
I encourage you to seek the LORD in truth. Clean out your heart, ask GOD to exchange his heart for yours, his thoughts for yours, and his will. And really LOVE people from a sincere heart, because the truth of the matter, according to scripture, is if you do not love others, you cannot love yourself.
God does not change. His WORD is everlasting, and he is merciful.
I encourage you to seek the LORD in truth. Clean out your heart, ask GOD to exchange his heart for yours, his thoughts for yours, and his will. And really LOVE people from a sincere heart, because the truth of the matter, according to scripture, is if you do not love others, you cannot love yourself.
“Love your neighbor as yourself” Luke 10:27
Make peace with GOD through prayer, and encourage even those that do not regard you well in love, and move to another level in him.
Then you will be perfect, just like the Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)
Agape
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