Spiritual Warfare Archives - Page 7 of 10

Substance Abuse Isn’t Due to a Chemical Hook?

October 24, 2015

Substance abuse isn’t due to a chemical hook? That’s right, but the men in our yearlong recovery program come in thinking it is. Tragically, this gives the addiction even more power. Every lie believed adds to the inner bondage. In this case the lie is that the crack, alcohol or meth was all powerful; in comparison they had none. This reduced the struggle to a will power contest which they lost consistently. Every time the substance showed up, their body craved it with an overwhelming desire and they caved in…

Stuff’s Gonna ‘Splode

October 12, 2015

Healing Streams

SPIRITUAL WARFARE, STRONGHOLDS TO OVERCOME

I love to praise the gallantry of “putting things in the pot” whenever we see some unChristlike thought or attitude try to spring into action through us (see previous post). Denying self means practicing “containment” of the flesh when it tries to rise up and take over. We have to stand guard to wrestle our wrong reactions into submission, usually at a moment’s notice. But you can’t leave it there! Think of your interior like a pressure cooker: Even with…

Put It in the Pot!

October 5, 2015

Healing Streams

REPENTANCE-CRUCIFYING THE FLESH, STRONGHOLDS TO OVERCOME

“Let’s put it in the pot!” is a very funny line in the movie Cold Mountain, referring to a rooster which was acting like a barnyard terror and that badly need to be captured and cooked. But it applies to us—that is, anything about us that doesn’t match up with Jesus. The first stage of crucifying the flesh is containment. Realize what shouldn’t be released into the world around you and put it in the pot instead. Are you getting angry…

“You Want Answers?”

September 25, 2015

Healing Streams

INNER PEACE AND FREEDOM, KNOWING GOD

Has the quest for closure snared you? You want to know the truth! Why are things happening the way they are? Why are people being so stubborn and obstinate? I call this the “quest for closure” and if you don’t watch out you just might get caught in suspended animation—waiting anxiously for some kind of answer when none is coming.Consider women who are married to verbally abusive or addicted husbands. They often have such love…