We read in 2 Timothy that Paul instructs Timothy to flee from youthful lust and pursue righteousness, joy, and peace. These instructions were two-fold with the being to dispose of and kill the things that don't belong in your life. But there's other ways of thinking and ways of living that we want to vivify or stimulate the growth of.
Gardening is a good way for us to illustrate this process. First in gardening, you pull the weeds up. There are things in your life that you used to think, things you used to believe, and ways you used to behave, that don't belong in the soil of your soul. And there's other ways of thinking and others, ways of living that you want to plant like flowers or trees. We want to see them bear fruit and bring life into our souls. But the enemy does not want you to bear fruit or have a close intimacy with the Father that comes through pursuing or cultivating the things of the Lord. The enemy’s goal is to get you to take a willful step away from the intimacy with God you were made for.
Each one of us is tempted and enticed by our own desires, and lured by our heart’s affections. The enemy wants to lure and entice us with our desires, because what you think about and care about is what you will chase. If you don’t know your enemy or yourself, you will lose in every battle. But if you know your enemy, his tactics, and yourself, you can be victorious over his schemes.
DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTION: What is shaping your thinking? If it doesn't promote intimacy with God, how do you eliminate that moment?
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Derrick Brown