Chocolate truffles and bacon
That’s all it took
for me to fall into the ditch
from my higher road
Resolved to eat better,
I was on my way
less sweets
less carbs
more exercise
The usual song and dance
for many a New Year enthusiast
only 13 days in…
But it had been a rough day
and I really wanted to eat bacon
and I really wanted to eat truffles
and I jumped in
with both feet
Not just a little
but a lot
and man it tasted good!
Then
the after…
the feeling crummy
the regret
the guilt
the sigh
Isn’t it that way with sin?
Without vigilance
we can find ourselves
up to our necks in it
Sin can be so tasty
But there is always the after
and in Jesus
we are free from those chains!
Sin reigns no more in us
because of Christ!
So when we choose to sin
it’s like bacon and chocolate truffles
It is blatant
or
it’s because we haven’t taken up our armor
Something is slipping
and I have left myself exposed
without a piece of my armor
Flesh exposed
And I’m not just talking
about the supposed “biggies” of sin
How often do we know
the Holy Spirit is pricking our hearts
when we start to speak gossip about another?
And we know we should stop
but we’ve already started
so we jump in deeper
because we’re already there
Run from sin’s snare!
Christ will fight for us
We need to surrender to Him
Don’t be burdened with slavery
free Warrior
– Susie Stewart
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
– Exodus 14:14 (NIV)
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
– Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
– Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT)
Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.
– Romans 6:12-14 (NLT)
Photos taken by Susie Stewart and Arik Stewart
Susie Stewart 