by Yvette van Niekerk
Ephesians 4: 23 – 25 TLB
“Now, your attitudes and thoughts must all be constantly changing for the better. Yes, you must be a new and different person, holy and good. Clothe yourself with this new nature. Stop lying to each other; tell the truth, for we are parts of each other, and when we lie to each other, we are hurting ourselves.”
I believe personal battles are connected to past hurts and thing or attitudes we want to change within ourselves. My husband said something interesting to me. He believes we all carry a little black box in the back of mind, heart or soul. It’s locked away so no one, not even you can see it.
How to win a personal battle? It’s going to be a very tough battle. I believe if it is hidden away, we don’t actually want to expose it. The best way to deal with such a situation or circumstance is to call on the Holy Spirit. It’s like poverty, and it smells musty – acidic, it burns your eyes when you smell it. People living in these circumstances stomachs growl with hunger.
The same for a Christian who has served God for a very long time; their religious thoughts keep them from growing into their new identity. It’s much easier to teach a new Christian about mercy and grace than the person on the road for years. To change this person is going to be a brutal task. Only the Holy Spirit can set them free and deliver them from any strongholds or battles they are facing.
Paul writes we should drop these evil ways. Throw off your evil nature, the old you that was a partner in your evil ways, rotten through and through, full of lust and sham.
To win our battles, we need to be constantly changing our attitudes and thoughts renewing it for the better becoming different person, holy and good. Telling the truth and breaking the old nature and habits.
Being a person that doesn’t pretend to be good, pretend to be nice but genuinely is good and genuinely nice. Personal battles are tough, and we can’t change them on our own, we need the Holy Spirit to help us with the battles we face.
Prayer
Father God, please save us from all error, ignorance, pride and prejudices. Please direct, sanctify and govern us in our work, through the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, so the Gospel may be preached. Christ is truly spoken of and received, and we truly follow You in every place. We are fighting our battles with sin, Satan and death. Calling on You Holy Spirit to renew our hearts and mind. In Jesus Name, Amen
Yvette van Niekerk
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Yvette van Niekerk 