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| Beat The Inner Bullies |
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10:5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
How do you effectively deal with a bully? Surrender and politely give him your lunch money? Of course not. That only makes him worse. If you surrender you will be under the bully's power every day.
Victory over bully thoughts, bully cravings, and bully compulsions requires fierce resistance, passionate persistence, and uncommon courage. Thus, many people simply give in to their bully thoughts, bully cravings, and bully compulsions.
They live their lives in submissive obedience to their impulses and desires offering no resistance, no persistence, no courage. They attempt to excuse their bondage to their inner bullies with slogans like: "I can't help myself," "That's just the way I am," "If it feels good do it," "Don't judge me," "Everybody does it," "Mind your own business," "I was born that way," "We all sin everyday," and other verbal drivel. Meanwhile, they passively, silently follow the path of self-inflicted misery.
It is no fun to be in bondage to inner bullies -- even if all your friends are reveling in the same slavery. Sure, the group may act like their self-destruction is a party; but everybody knows (deep inside) that there has got to be a better way to live!
It is called personal freedom -- the ability to do right; no matter how you feel -- no matter what others say or do! And it is worth fighting for -- even more than political freedom. Personal freedom is the ability to defeat bully thoughts, bully cravings, and bully compulsions; and to live a positive, productive, purposeful life.
Personal freedom is very costly, but it pays wonderful dividends in self-respect, joy, and peace. Why not declare war on your inner bullies today? Stand up to bully thoughts, bully cravings, and bully compulsions. Resist them with persistence and courage. And if you fall into their control again -- immediately get up and continue to fight them. Never surrender again to those inner bullies! Be an inner winner! You can, if you will train yourself spiritually with the same effort and determination that an athlete trains for the Olympics. Will you? |
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| Thanks, Megan. We all deserve victory over inner bullies. And Jesus paid for our freedom. Now all we have to do is fight to take it. |
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| I have never thought of it that way Steve, I am going to declare war on those inner bullies! I used to stand up to them in school, why cant I do it to those unseen bullies? Thanks for the Tip |
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| That's great, Evangelist Keith. A simple declaration of war is a key to inner victory. |
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Joey |
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April 30, 2008 at 3:35pm |
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I agree. These negative thought patterns can really destroy a person.
"JUST SAY NO" |
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Ok..I'm stealing this one Steve. I'm letting you know right now I am going to copy/paste this one. I have been working on my "softer side" for the ministry workers under me and I have been trying to get this message across forever just "my way". Thanks. There are some folks I am currently working with and this will help.
Just a little note, you are so anointed in your blogs...you make it dumby proof. |
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| You have quit preaching and gone to meddling now preacher! I Cor 10:13..."God always makes a way to escape." The question is: Do we really want to escape? If someone is not willing to repent you might as well raise the white flag and surrender. But, the good news is greater is He that is in us and if we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh and we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us so praise be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Go get them bullies! |
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Powerful Steve.....I really like this part....train yourself spiritually with the same effort and determination that an athlete trains for the Olympics.....I'm going to the spiritual gym right now ;o) |
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Ed |
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May 01, 2008 at 8:07am |
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Remember the comedian (who was it, again?) who's tag line was, "The devil made me do it"? There's a certain truth to that but, as the bother above says, "...greater is He that is in us" than that which is in the world.
I wonder, though, exactly WHO IS GREATER? Lately, I've been feeling satan is. You've defined a game plan to get back on track and stay on track. That's where I need to be. Thanks, Steve. |
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| Thank you for this post brother, it is great! _Tammy |
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| Amen. Wow. I am inspired by your comments Veronica, Todd, Mar Jay, and Ed. We are truly in a spiritual battle and it is so important that we don't wimp out and surrender. Thank you for your encouragement, guys!!! |
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Ed |
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May 01, 2008 at 8:39am |
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| I mean, "...the bRother above says". No fruedian slip intended! (even spell check doesn't correct things like that) |
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| Ed, I saw that...got a chuckle out of it. it's all good. :0) |
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Steve, I'm struggling with the ASV rendering. My personal preference is the NIV, and I also refer to verse 4 for a little added context....
"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
The only way I can overcome those bullies is by using the weapons that have divine power. My own resolve and strength is simply too weak!!! Thanks for stirring my mind again today! ~mike |
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| Good point, Mike. We need God's power but God also asks for our effort. Phil. chapter 2 says: "work out your own salvation for it is God who works in you." It takes both workings. |
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| Good point, Mike. We need God's power but God also asks for our effort. Phil. chapter 2 says: "work out your own salvation for it is God who works in you." It takes both workings. |
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