THOUGHT STARTER:Is being a little bit angry like being a little bit pregnant? Put off . . . anger, wrath, malice. Colossians 3:8, NKJV It is not very often that an author describes a session with his counselor. Jay Carty did just that and I happened to be the counselor. I was on my way …
Continue reading “65617 17. Anger Is One Letter Away from Danger”
THOUGHT STARTER: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and …
Continue reading “65618 18. If You Don’t Want to, You Aren’t Going to”
THOUGHT STARTER:Do you know that everyone can finish the race of life as a winner? In a race, everyone runs but only one person gets first prize. So run your race to win. To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best. An athlete goes to …
If you feel yourself infected by sinful struggles in mind, body, or spirit, you are probably eager to be healed and have your life transformed. If so, your desire shows that your conscience is still alive and that the Holy Spirit is working inside you to will what God wills. What you are feeling is …
Frank sat behind the wheel, fuming. It was bad enough that every light was red, but then the guy in the pickup had changed lanes without using his turn signal. Frank checked his rearview mirror, hit his turn signal, and whipped into the left lane, accelerating past the slow-moving truck. As he picked up speed, …
If we want to stop committing a habitual sin, we should first look at what we are doing and then develop strategies for changing our behavior, right? Wrong. The first step should be to start at the other end—not with ourselves but with God. That is why step one in breaking a sinful habit is …
Continue reading “65503 3. Knowing God (Step 1: Adopt a correct view of God)”
One time a man named George came to me (Henry) for counseling. Actually, I was the second counselor this man had gone to. George wanted me to interpret what the first counselor had said. George’s perceived problems included feeling bored with church, dissatisfied with his wife, and annoyed with his colleagues at work. He had …
Continue reading “65504 4. Embracing Truth (Step 2: Revise your false beliefs)”
One time my wife and I (Henry) were driving to Detroit, where I was engaged to speak. At one point in the trip my wife said, “Henry, you are going the wrong way.” I felt defensive and replied, “Don’t you think I know where Detroit is? Look, do you want to drive this car, or …
Continue reading “65505 5. Turning Around (Step 3: Repent of your sin)”
I (Bill) became a Christian in my early twenties through the influence of a group of young adults at Hollywood Presbyterian Church in California. Quickly I began ministering in a number of ways and saw God blessing my efforts. Around the same time, though, I accepted a member of my church as a partner into …
Continue reading “65506 6. Defending Your Ground (Step 4: Defend against spiritual attacks)”
Since the beginning of Campus Crusade for Christ, I (Bill) have made it my policy never to be alone with any woman other than my wife, Vonette. I have seen the way other Christian leaders have failed in the area of sexual purity and have brought disaster upon their ministries as a result. Even the …
Continue reading “65507 7. Preventing Setbacks (Step 5: Flee temptation)”