I’ve been sober now for 5 years…I think, maybe 6. I’ve been in recovery for a little over 2 years. There’s a MAJOR difference. I’ll leave that topic for another day. I made the decision to turn my life over to Jesus 7 years ago or, better stated, I reached out to grab hold of his promises of salvation, grace, hope, and mercy…
I was FAR from committing ALL my life, let alone part of my life, and will to Christ’s care and control. I asked Jesus to invade my life, but I asked him from behind the door. As a matter of fact, I opened the door, but left the chain on. I went on to live the next few years believing that day, that prayer was enough. Biblically you could argue it was (Romans 10:9).
Looking back it’s difficult to identify any real change. I continued drinking. I continued using drugs. Don’t even get me started on my porn addiction. Is this what it means to be a Christian? Is this what it means to follow Jesus? I thought life would get easier. I thought things would be different. I thought God was going to CHANGE me!
He did.
He is.
He is going to.
Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control.
Principle 3
Principle 3 nails it.
#1 CONSCIOUSLY CHOOSE—It’s my choice. I have say whether or not I remain stuck in my mess or move forward in His blessings. You have the same choice. It’s the most difficult, yet easiest decision you could ever make. Jesus said it like this, he’s standing right outside your door WAITING for you to LET HIM IN (Revelation 3:20).
#2 TO COMMIT ALL MY LIFE AND WILL—God didn’t want my empty words, He didn’t want my empty promises, He didn’t want my excuses, He didn’t want my lies…He wanted my heart. He wanted ALL OF ME. He wanted a RELATIONSHIP with me. I thought He wanted my works, my good deeds, my service. He wanted ME. He wants YOU.
#3 TO CHRIST’S CARE AND CONTROL—Oh now you’ve gone and done messed it all up. People don’t want to hear about this. People don’t want to hear about handing over control. People don’t want to hear about surrender. People don’t want to hear about obedience. As if Jesus wanted anything more than to BLESS you. As if Jesus wanted anything more than to SET YOU FREE. Jesus doesn’t want something FROM you, he has something FOR you. On my own I walked a path that was leading to destruction. Destruction of MY life, my WIFE’S life, my KIDS’ lives, my kids’ KIDS…in Christ I found hope, I found LIFE. In Jesus there exists the hope of changing the trajectory of your ENTIRE family line.
I believe now more than ever that Jesus is THE remedy. NOTHING can or will convince me otherwise. I haven’t just READ ABOUT IT, I’ve LIVED IT. I’ve EXPERIENCED IT. It’s more than just saying a prayer, it’s about growing a RELATIONSHIP. It’s about TRUST. It’s about realizing you cannot do it alone, but IN CHRIST you have the strength and the courage to face today, tomorrow, and even yesterday.
Don’t stop at just saying a prayer. Let today be the day you CHOOSE to COMMIT.
I was FAR from committing ALL my life, let alone part of my life, and will to Christ’s care and control. I asked Jesus to invade my life, but I asked him from behind the door. As a matter of fact, I opened the door, but left the chain on. I went on to live the next few years believing that day, that prayer was enough. Biblically you could argue it was (Romans 10:9).
Looking back it’s difficult to identify any real change. I continued drinking. I continued using drugs. Don’t even get me started on my porn addiction. Is this what it means to be a Christian? Is this what it means to follow Jesus? I thought life would get easier. I thought things would be different. I thought God was going to CHANGE me!
He did.
He is.
He is going to.
Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control.
Principle 3
Principle 3 nails it.
#1 CONSCIOUSLY CHOOSE—It’s my choice. I have say whether or not I remain stuck in my mess or move forward in His blessings. You have the same choice. It’s the most difficult, yet easiest decision you could ever make. Jesus said it like this, he’s standing right outside your door WAITING for you to LET HIM IN (Revelation 3:20).
#2 TO COMMIT ALL MY LIFE AND WILL—God didn’t want my empty words, He didn’t want my empty promises, He didn’t want my excuses, He didn’t want my lies…He wanted my heart. He wanted ALL OF ME. He wanted a RELATIONSHIP with me. I thought He wanted my works, my good deeds, my service. He wanted ME. He wants YOU.
#3 TO CHRIST’S CARE AND CONTROL—Oh now you’ve gone and done messed it all up. People don’t want to hear about this. People don’t want to hear about handing over control. People don’t want to hear about surrender. People don’t want to hear about obedience. As if Jesus wanted anything more than to BLESS you. As if Jesus wanted anything more than to SET YOU FREE. Jesus doesn’t want something FROM you, he has something FOR you. On my own I walked a path that was leading to destruction. Destruction of MY life, my WIFE’S life, my KIDS’ lives, my kids’ KIDS…in Christ I found hope, I found LIFE. In Jesus there exists the hope of changing the trajectory of your ENTIRE family line.
I believe now more than ever that Jesus is THE remedy. NOTHING can or will convince me otherwise. I haven’t just READ ABOUT IT, I’ve LIVED IT. I’ve EXPERIENCED IT. It’s more than just saying a prayer, it’s about growing a RELATIONSHIP. It’s about TRUST. It’s about realizing you cannot do it alone, but IN CHRIST you have the strength and the courage to face today, tomorrow, and even yesterday.
Don’t stop at just saying a prayer. Let today be the day you CHOOSE to COMMIT.
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