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We are not here to talk religion, but we will talk about what it means to have a personal, daily walk with God. Our goal is to not waste your time and be under 5 minutes. Come! Join the discussion.
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We Always Have the Power
Jeremiah 17:9 Says that above all else, the heart is deceitful and it is beyond cure. Who can understand it?
In other words, beyond all else, beyond this podcast, beyond you and I having coffee, beyond any of my cognitive abilities, my heart is deceitful.
As it turns out, that story about the Garden of Eden isn’t just a story, it’s truth. Our concept of Truth may be for another episode, but here’s what I want to point out.
Romans 5:12 Tells us that through Adam, sin entered the world and death was passed on to everyone because all have sinned. This passed on sin, is known as inherited sin. Just as I inherited physical characteristics from my parents, I inherited a sinful nature from Adam.
What is sin? Anything that separates me from God. Let me explain it this way. In the Spanish language those same three letters s i n, are pronounced a little differently but the word means “without”. So when I sin, I am without God.
Above all else, if my heart is deceitful, then there’s no doubt that I will have a tendency to do things, and think in the ways that point me away from, or without God.
So, on days where I just want to be left alone, or I’ll wake up angry and really not knowing why, or the overly happy guy just really makes me a little more irritated than I should be, I’m just falling towards the temptation that my heart is deceiving me.
To go further, that same scripture in Jeremiah asks the question, who can understand it? (Meaning, my heart.) Well if we’re being asked the question who can understand it, doesn’t that imply that no one can? So what’s the point in trying to understand it?
I once had a boss that would say you only have 3 minutes to explain the problem, but I’ll give you the rest of the day so we can talk about solutions. How am I doing on time? Okay, let’s move on from the problem.
Here is the solution. You ready for this? We always have a choice. One thing we always have, is the power to choose.
Genesis 2:16 God told the man, you are free to eat from any tree in the garden.
Deuteronomy 30:19 On this day I call the heavens and the Earth as Witnesses against you that I’ve set before you life and death, blessing and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.
Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on them.
Joshua 24:15 Joshua says but if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourself… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
There have been many times, when life has just dealt us a swift kick in the gut. Tammy and I have looked at each other and made the decision we’re going to serve the Lord in this situation. It has to be a choice. And every time, without fail, God has proven himself to be faithful. He has given us joy.
There’s a distinct difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is only temporary, and we can choose it. Joy is eternal gift from God. You can search for happiness and you can choose happiness but it will only last temporarily. But if you make a habit to choose happiness, that habit will turn to a lifestyle of choice. In that discipline, from that obedience, He is faithful to give us one of his main attributes, Joy.