Word for the day "Is this my own story"
Judges 16:16-17 (MSG) She kept at it day after day, nagging and tormenting him. Finally, he was fed up—he couldn’t take another minute of it. He spilled it. He told her, “A razor has never touched my head. I’ve been God’s Nazirite from conception. If I were shaved, my strength would leave me; I would be as helpless as any other mortal.”18 When Delilah realized that he had told her his secret, she sent for the Philistine tyrants, telling them, “Come quickly—this time he’s told me the truth.” They came, bringing the bribe money.19 When she got him to sleep, his head on her lap, she motioned to a man to cut off the seven braids of his hair. Immediately he began to grow weak. His strength drained from him.
Time to confront the weakness that places our relationship with God in danger.
As a child, Samson was dedicated to God, and God gifted him with supernatural strength. But Samson had a lifetime weakness, his desire for women.
If you know the story, then you know that Samson was blinded to the dangers he faced in his relationship with Delilah. His enemies paid Delilah to discover the secret of his strength.
Do you have a weakness for women, men, or passions which makes you blinded to dangers in your relationship with God?
People aren't always aware of their own self-sabotage actions as it affects their behavior may not show up for some time.
Unfortunately, connecting a behavior to self-defeating consequences is no guarantee that a person will be redeemed from the behavior.
These acts may seem helpful at the moment, but they ultimately undermine us, especially when we engage in them repeatedly. Still, it is possible to overcome almost any form of self-sabotage, and people do it every day.
In particular, when we submit our lives to the Lord in earnest submission. As we take a glance at the struggle of Samson in today’s message, it is my hope we all can see ourselves in the context.
Our passions if not submitted to the Lord regularly can lead to our demise.
Three times she begged him to let her in on his secret, and each time she tried to use this information to hand him over to his enemies.
All three times, Samson lied to her and was able to escape, but each time he got close to telling her the truth. In the end, Samson revealed his secret, was taken captive and died a slave in the hands of his enemies.
Samson’s real problem can be found in his wayward passions, which his enemies took advantage of. His disobedience to God caused him to gradually inch his way toward destruction and a violent death.
Now I must confess this is a real concern to me and my life. What do we learn from the story of Samson?
Though our choices may not lead to a violent death, they can lead to the destruction of our families, jobs, and relationship with the Lord.
Getting to know our passions, practices, and patterns can help us to avoid self-sabotaging dangers. Facing our past is an important part of this process.
Once we familiarize ourselves with the dangers of what we are engaging in, we can differentiate from self-sabotaging behaviors and live a more liberated life, in which we are more powerful and much more in resourceful in our destiny.
Point to ponder
You can protect yourself by developing relationships with those who love you and are devoted to God’s truth. It will help you choose obedience when you might have been tempted to choose otherwise.
Unlike Delilah, we need safe, trustworthy friends who will prove to be a source of strength, encouragement, and wisdom. Ask yourself is this the story of Samson or my own life?
Special thanks!
Our Leadership team is especially thankful for those of you who provided financial donations and support in the month of December 2018 by partnering with us in efforts to advance the kingdom of God in this 21st century season: Special thanks to Mr. William Wilson, Ms. Kersha Brown, Ms. Quiana Volney, Ms. Annette Straker, Mr. David Straker, Mr. Kenneth Washington, Ms. Cynthia George, Ms. Rita Mcguffin, Mrs. Barbara Mason, Mrs. Cynthia Waiters-Artis, and Ms. Gertrude Scott.
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Kingdom Blessings,Pastor James Baker, Jr.