"The Give Up" Factor

"I give up!"
I smoked briefly in my earlier adult years. For me to "give up," smoking cigarettes was not the issue, it was the very act of giving up that bothered me. Call it a stubborn will or immaturity, but I'm tenacious and daring when pursuing life's challenges. This "go get it," "I'm quitter," personality is relentless and flawed. As opposed to "giving up any bad habit, I choose to GIVE IT to God. I surrendered to the all consuming fire and battle axe! Jesus Christ through the spiritual guidance of the Holy Spirit gave my lifestyle choices wisdom and purpose.

In my experience when one has chosen to "give up," no further action is required as opposed to surrendering. To surrender, though grammatically is synonymous, the "attitude," differs in my opinion.   The attitude of GIVING my addiction, worries, battles and character flaws to my Savior requires a constant mode of obedience and trust. No, I will not "give up," in defeat, but rather walk in faith and restoration! I courageously give my bad habits to the department of deliverance. Healing only occurs when we follow through and up as directed.

The only thing I "can't do," is give up on God and give in to satan! I can do all things through Christ Jesus is my daily proclamation. To be steadfast unmovable and always abounding in the work of the Lord takes a DAILY surrender! No, I didn't just "give up" a sinful lifestyle, but I did GIVE MY LIFE to Jesus Christ and ask the Holy Ghost to rule and abide in my heart! I win because Jesus WON, before the foundations of the world! #TEAMJESUS4LIFE

From Sun to Son

Growing up was as much a challenge for parents, as learning how to walk for babies. How many; "Hot! Hot! No! Stop!" warnings did all of us possibly endure? Only to learn hard lessons for disobeying stern advice with parental threats of punishment, to successfully heeding to the God- approved sanctions and guidelines implemented by our caretakers, teachers and unfortunately for some teens, law enforcement officers. 

Puberty was the most difficult transition for most of us, who are now adults. Some even attempted or chose to follow Christian lifestyles and succeeded, or stumbled. Either way the grace of God covered our limited spiritual wisdom and understanding. To God be the glory. 

We all must grow in the knowledge of how we exist and by whose authority. 

We don't have the luxury of spiritual maturity at birth. And our parents best introduction of Christ or God as they know Him sharing skills are limited. Cognitive abilities in humankind is not collectively assuring. Some adolescents are exposed to environments or illnesses which may promote or hinder early development. 

Everyone has a life story, and we all have the same Author and Finisher to those who resort to faith in our Creator's penmanship.

Here is where we fail as humans, while stunting our spiritual growth. God has allowed every able bodied child of God the same will; choice.

We will either choose eternal life or death. Period. If one was trapped inside of a burning building and has the "flight or fright," psychological ability, most would search for an ESCAPE. We have every available mercy, followed by grace to accommodate our earthly pilgrimage. Though the journey has deserts, valleys, hilltops and voluminous mountains of burdens which leave us weary and grieved, we have an escape; a refuge, stronger tower of shelter and advocate to stand against the days of calamity and usher us into eternal life.

Scripture Closing:

Acts 17:30 KJV

📖And the times of this ignorance God winked👀 at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

📖Jas 4:14-17 KJV Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour💨, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.  But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

📖1 John 1:7-9 KJV

But if we walk in the light🌅 as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalms 136:6-9 KJV

To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.  To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:  The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:  The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.