Advice #15
ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU
Ralph Sorter
They’re small, invisible, lurk in the shadows, and they don’t care who their victims are…I call them the double agents of the mind. These spies appear as harmless companions, but they will sell your soul at the drop of the hat. “He sits in the lurking places of the villages; in the hiding places he kills the innocent; His eyes stealthily watch for the unfortunate. He lurks in a hiding place as a lion in his lair; He lurks to catch the afflicted; He catches the afflicted when he draws him into his net.” (Ps. 10:8-9)
We listen to them all the time. Their CD’s of pre-recorded temptations are spinning at an alarming rate, and equally our will (that which chooses between good and evil) is spinning out of control. If you listen to the voices of temptation (and believe me, it doesn’t take very long) you will soon lose your ability to choose righteousness.
Paul experienced the same battle that you and I struggle with: “For that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.” (Rom. 7:15) He, too, heard the voices of the invisible in the shadows: “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.” (Rom 7:21)
It’s not easy to stop listening to temptation. And don’t be fooled thinking they are harmless companions. Think for a moment, where did the whole process start that ended with a destructive choice? It started with a thought, didn’t it? The voices of temptation speak in the first person, making it sound like it’s our own thought. That’s what makes it so hard to refuse…we don’t recognize the double agent who’s working for the “other side!”
So what do we do? You take the cloak of disguise off the little devil! You expose the thoughts for what they are: Lies that intend to kill! You reveal the truth by the Light of the Word…you filter all your thoughts (see Phil. 4:8 Really, please look it up!)
Ask God to strengthen your heart to send the double agents back to the bottomless pit!
A Message from HOPE’S
Marriage & Family Ministry
ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU
Ralph Sorter
They’re small, invisible, lurk in the shadows, and they don’t care who their victims are…I call them the double agents of the mind. These spies appear as harmless companions, but they will sell your soul at the drop of the hat. “He sits in the lurking places of the villages; in the hiding places he kills the innocent; His eyes stealthily watch for the unfortunate. He lurks in a hiding place as a lion in his lair; He lurks to catch the afflicted; He catches the afflicted when he draws him into his net.” (Ps. 10:8-9)
We listen to them all the time. Their CD’s of pre-recorded temptations are spinning at an alarming rate, and equally our will (that which chooses between good and evil) is spinning out of control. If you listen to the voices of temptation (and believe me, it doesn’t take very long) you will soon lose your ability to choose righteousness.
Paul experienced the same battle that you and I struggle with: “For that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.” (Rom. 7:15) He, too, heard the voices of the invisible in the shadows: “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.” (Rom 7:21)
It’s not easy to stop listening to temptation. And don’t be fooled thinking they are harmless companions. Think for a moment, where did the whole process start that ended with a destructive choice? It started with a thought, didn’t it? The voices of temptation speak in the first person, making it sound like it’s our own thought. That’s what makes it so hard to refuse…we don’t recognize the double agent who’s working for the “other side!”
So what do we do? You take the cloak of disguise off the little devil! You expose the thoughts for what they are: Lies that intend to kill! You reveal the truth by the Light of the Word…you filter all your thoughts (see Phil. 4:8 Really, please look it up!)
Ask God to strengthen your heart to send the double agents back to the bottomless pit!
A Message from HOPE’S
Marriage & Family Ministry
ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU
Ralph Sorter
They’re small, invisible, lurk in the shadows, and they don’t care who their victims are…I call them the double agents of the mind. These spies appear as harmless companions, but they will sell your soul at the drop of the hat. “He sits in the lurking places of the villages; in the hiding places he kills the innocent; His eyes stealthily watch for the unfortunate. He lurks in a hiding place as a lion in his lair; He lurks to catch the afflicted; He catches the afflicted when he draws him into his net.” (Ps. 10:8-9)
We listen to them all the time. Their CD’s of pre-recorded temptations are spinning at an alarming rate, and equally our will (that which chooses between good and evil) is spinning out of control. If you listen to the voices of temptation (and believe me, it doesn’t take very long) you will soon lose your ability to choose righteousness.
Paul experienced the same battle that you and I struggle with: “For that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.” (Rom. 7:15) He, too, heard the voices of the invisible in the shadows: “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.” (Rom 7:21)
It’s not easy to stop listening to temptation. And don’t be fooled thinking they are harmless companions. Think for a moment, where did the whole process start that ended with a destructive choice? It started with a thought, didn’t it? The voices of temptation speak in the first person, making it sound like it’s our own thought. That’s what makes it so hard to refuse…we don’t recognize the double agent who’s working for the “other side!”
So what do we do? You take the cloak of disguise off the little devil! You expose the thoughts for what they are: Lies that intend to kill! You reveal the truth by the Light of the Word…you filter all your thoughts (see Phil. 4:8 Really, please look it up!)
Ask God to strengthen your heart to send the double agents back to the bottomless pit!
A Message from HOPE’S
Marriage & Family Ministry