Monthly Archives: April 2009

The “Demon” of Lust?

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“If you are angry, don’t sin by nursing your grudge. Don’t let the sun go down with you still angry—get over it quickly; for when you are angry you give a mighty foothold to the devil.”1

A Daily Encounter reader writes, “I have been fighting with a lust demon for years. I have asked GOD to relieve me of this demon but I keep slipping back and doing the same thing all over again. I have just rededicated my life to God and am on my church’s outreach team. I want this demon of Satan out of my body never to return. Will you pray for me?”

Hello, Jim (name changed), Thank you for being honest and sharing your struggle with lust. To resolve any problem it is imperative to understand the root cause of the problem. Let me assure you that lust, as with anger, is NOT a demon. If I am wrongfully angry, that is my problem and when I fail to resolve it, I give the foothold to the enemy.

It’s the same with lust. Lust is a struggle most red-blooded men struggle with at one time or another. Severe lust, however, is usually a symptom of repressed love or unmet love needs. As long as you blame the problem on anything outside of yourself, you will never overcome it because lust is a problem within. I don’t know who told you it was a demon but I challenge this person to find anywhere in the Bible where it says there is “a demon of lust.”

Sure, Satan is the originator of all sin and does tempt us, but most of us don’t need the devil or a demon to make, or even cause, us to lust. We can do it all by ourselves because we are all sinners.

So how do you overcome? First and foremost, you need not only confess your lust to God, but also ask him to confront you with the real cause of your lust … to show you the root cause of the problem … and then to lead you to the help you need to overcome. Only by facing the truth will you be set free.

Remember too, as David wrote in the Psalms, “The Lord is near to all who call on him; to all who call on him in truth.”2

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, whenever I have any problem that I can’t resolve, please help me to see the root cause of it and help me to find the support I need to overcome. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Ephesians 4:26-27 (TLB).

2. Psalm 145:18 (NIV).

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On Specks and Logs

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“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?”1

Mike Atkinson in his Mickey’s Funnies shares the following humorous story:

A young couple moved into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside.

“That laundry is not very clean,” she said. “She doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.” Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About a month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: “Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this.”

The husband said, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”2

Need I say more?

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please deliver me from the sin of playing the blame-game and projecting my blind spots onto others—and judging them accordingly. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Matthew 7:3-4 (NLT).

2. Mickey’s Funnies © 2008 Mike Atkinson.

http://www.mikeysFunnies.com.

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An Attitude Of Gratitude

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“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever.”1

A legend tells the story of a fisherman called Aaron who lived on the banks of a river. Walking home with his eyes half-closed one evening after a hard day’s work, he was dreaming of what he could do if he were rich. As he walked his foot struck a leather pouch filled with what seemed to him to be small stones. Absentmindedly he picked up the pouch and began throwing the pebbles into the water.

“When I am a rich man,” he said to himself, “I’ll have a large house”. And he threw another pebble into the river. He threw another one and thought, “My wife and I will have servants and rich food, and many fine things.” And this went on until just one stone was left. As Aaron held it in his hand, a ray of light caught it and made it sparkle. He was not throwing ordinary stones but valuable gems, throwing away the real riches in his hand, while he dreamed of unreal riches in the future.”2

Don’t wait until tomorrow because “what-ifs” rarely, if ever, come. Be thankful for the blessings you have today for today is the only day we ever have. Live in the present for yesterdays are gone forever and tomorrows are only a hope and always a day away!

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please open my eyes that I may see the countless blessings you have already provided for and given to me. Help me to feel the wonder of it all and give me a thankful heart for all you have done and are doing for me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Psalm 136:1-3 (NKJV).

2. Brett Blair www.eSermons.com. Adapted from a sermon by Rev. Richard J. Fairchild: “The Man Without Wedding Clothes.”

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