Apicontent – Page 104

33126 Bible Verses Related to Fear

Meditate on these verses related to fear, and ask God to show you anything that you need to confess and repent of:

Fear

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10, NKJV)

For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, “Fear not, I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13, NKJV)

You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the LORD is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. (Proverbs 3:24-26, NLT2)

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7, KJV)

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15, NLT2)

Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6, NLT2)

The LORD is my light and my salvation– so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. (Psalm 27:1, NLT2)

I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4, KJV)

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! (Psalm 46:1-3, NLT2)

Listen to the LORD who created you…the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:1-2, NLT2)

Whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm. (Proverbs 1:33, NIV)

The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear. (Hebrews 13:6, KJV)

Disbelief

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. (Matthew 8:23-26, NIV)

And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were frightened, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind stopped. (Matthew 14:25-32, NASB95)

When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. (Matthew 17:14-18, NIV)

Worry

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT2)

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28, NLT2)

These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:32-34, NLT2)

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don’t worry about these things, saying, “What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?” These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:30-34, NLT2)

Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. (John 14:1, NASB95)

I am leaving you with a gift––peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27, NLT2)

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. (Matthew 6:34, NLT2)

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Luke 12:25, NIV)

Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. (Luke 12:11-12, NKJV)

Anxiety

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7, NLT2)

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. (Psalm 31:24, NIV)

Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! (Psalm 27:14, NKJV)

Faith

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1, NIV)

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6, NLT2)

Just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:6-7, NLT2)

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9, NASB95)

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13, NLT2)

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20, NIV)

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.” (Mark 11:22-24, NLT2)

We live by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7, NIV)

Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17, NIV)

I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. (Matthew 17:20, NASB95)

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold––though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. (1 Peter 1:7, NLT2)

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. (1 John 5:4, NLT2)

That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life––whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? (Matthew 6:25-26, NLT2)

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (Isaiah 26:3, NLT2)

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. (Psalm 55:22, NIV)

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. (1 Peter 5:8-9, NLT2)

The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.” The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it would obey you!” (Luke 17:5-6, NLT2)

Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (Ephesians 6:16, NIV)

33131 Anger: When Mad is Bad

Anger is a strong feeling of dislike, displeasure, or antagonism. It is connected to a host of other negative feelings and behaviors, including rage, hatred, bitterness, vengefulness, and violence.

What do you do if you are filled with rage or hatred or bitterness? What do you do if you are vengeful or violent? By God’s grace, you get rid of the sin of anger and replace it with the virtue of forgiveness.

Anger is an emotion that is set off when someone else has done something we do not like. We may be quite right in disliking what the other person has said or done. Sometimes, in fact, the offense is monstrous. But because the offense has a personal origin, the only way to free ourselves of the destructive emotion we feel and move ahead in life is to forgive the person who did wrong.

Of course, when we have been hurt, something inside us screams “No!” to the idea of forgiveness. It seems unjust. And do you know what? It is. When we forgive, we pay a price for a wrong that someone else has done. Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins on the cross. It was not just or fair, but He willingly did it so that mercy would triumph over justice. We follow in His footsteps when we forgive one who has committed an offense against us.

Another reason we might resist forgiving is that we conceive of unforgiveness as a type of revenge. We believe we are hurting the one who has hurt us if we withhold our forgiveness. That is foolish thinking. We are only hurting ourselves by holding on to a grudge.

Forgiveness does not necessarily mean suddenly having a warm feeling toward the one who has hurt us. We choose to forgive and we pray that the loving feelings will follow. This is loving by faith.

And what about reconciliation? A restored relationship should be our goal whenever it is a possibility. When the one who has offended us is a fellow Christian, we can follow the guidelines of Matthew 18 to initiate a process of confrontation that starts privately and adds on pressure and publicity if needed. When the offender is a non-Christian, we can still seek restoration of our relationship by humbly approaching the other and discussing what happened.

But reconciliation requires two. The other person may be unwilling to admit the wrong he or she has done and seek to restore the relationship. Or maybe you are unable to reconcile with the other person. You may not know how to get in touch with the offender anymore, or perhaps that person has died. And if the other person still presents a threat to you, as in the case of an abuser, it might not even be wise to reestablish contact. In such cases, remember that you can still forgive the person. Unlike reconciliation, forgiveness requires only one.

Hard as it is, forgiveness is a blessing to us because it frees us from anger and all the ill effects that anger brings upon us.

[The above article is an extract from Chapter 11 of Soul Prescription by Bill Bright and Henry Brandt.]

33132 Five Steps to Overcome Anger

Are you struggling with anger or an anger-related behavior? We have outlined a five-step process to help you change and heal in this area of your life. Take all the time you need with each of the steps below.

Step 1: Adopt a Correct View of God

Almost certainly, a distorted perception of God’s nature lies at the core of your problem with anger. We do not know exactly what that is for you. But quite possibly you are overemphasizing the wrath of God while underemphasizing His faithful love. Consider these key truths about God’s nature.

God offers forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternity instead of condemnation.

The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” (Exodus 34:6)

God is merciful and expects us to extend His mercy to others.

There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when He judges you. (James 2:13)

Search the Scriptures for everything you can find about God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness. Allow what you find out about Him to begin to change the way you think about God and about yourself as God’s child.

Step 2: Revise Your False Beliefs

You may be an angry person because you have developed some mistaken ideas about yourself and other people as well as how to get along in life. Do you believe that? Well, ask yourself these questions:

Do you believe you are justified in your anger?

Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs. (Proverbs 19:11)

Do you believe that your anger is uncontrollable?

Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry. (Ephesians 4:26)

Do you believe that anger is a useful tool in life?

People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness. (Proverbs 14:29)

Along with those suggested here, there are many more false beliefs that can keep you a slave to anger. Seek clues in Scripture for ways that your ideas have gone off track, contributing to your anger problem. Ask the Holy Spirit to use biblical truth to change your conscious and unconscious beliefs so that you are living in truth and not falsehood. He will do it!

Step 3: Repent of Your Sin

Are you ready to admit that you are angry and to give it up? In what particular ways (rage, violence, revenge, and so on) do you express your anger? Identify your anger and “own” it.

When you are ready, ask God to forgive you for your anger. You can pray the following prayer (or another like it in your own words). Insert the word for your particular anger problem in the blank spaces.

God, I am an angry person, especially in the area of __________. And I know that is sinful. I am sorry for how the flames of my anger have singed others, and especially I am sorry for how I have grieved You. Please forgive me for my anger now. Cleanse me completely from the sin of __________ so that it is gone from my life. And furthermore, give me the power never to return to my angry ways again. I want to be like Jesus, merciful and kind. In His name, I pray, amen.

If you have harmed others with your sin, apologize to them. Seek reconciliation and offer restitution where appropriate.

Step 4: Defend against Spiritual Attacks

The enemies of your soul—the world, the flesh, and the Devil—do not like it when you repent of your anger. They will stir up your anger again if you let them. Get ready to defend yourself against these enemies.

In the world’s value system, anger is considered good. The world would tell us that anger confers power. But you can overcome this false system if you hold fast to God’s values, which tells us that those who control their anger have real spiritual power.
Anger can feel good. Our flesh or sinful nature urges us to get that good feeling back by letting ourselves be filled with rage again. So when you feel that kind of desire rising within you, remind yourself that the flesh is dead and you do not have to satisfy its desires. Turn to the Spirit to help you want what God wants for you: a forgiving spirit.
Satan will use your sense of personal rights and your selfishness to goad you into angry outbursts and attitudes. Put on the armor of God to resist the Devil’s schemes. Above all, put on the “shoes of peace” (Ephesians 6:15), which enable you to move around in harmony with all your Christian brothers and sisters.

Are you ready to be in control of your anger, instead of its being in control of you? The battle has begun and will not be over soon. So the time is now to stand strong in the strength of the Lord and ask the Holy Spirit to supernaturally equip you to defeat the enemies of your soul.

33135 Finding Freedom from Anger – A True Story

Dave was a department foreman at a manufacturing firm. One day his boss called him into the office and said, “Dave, as you know, things are a bit slow these days. I realize you have worked hard and run one of the best departments in the company, but my orders are to cut one supervisor, so I am letting you go.”

Dave was stunned. He was the only Christian among the foremen. The other supervisory personnel, including his boss, liked to go out drinking and had some wild parties together. As a result, their work sometimes suffered and Dave had to step in to rescue them. He had worked hard and now this was his reward.

Dave soon faced a financial slump. He had been making payments on a new home and a car but when his salary was suddenly cut off, he was in trouble. He lost both the house and the car and had to move in with his parents. While with them, he had nothing to do but sit in a comfortable chair and mull over his experience.

“So this is the reward for hard work and clean living,” he said to himself over and over. The more he thought, the more bitter he became. He found it hard to eat and harder to digest what little he did eat. He suffered from painful cramps. His physician told him that his condition stemmed from his emotions. But most of his friends reassured him that he had a right to have some emotional problems.

Twelve years later, time seemed to have healed the wound. Dave found another job and was quite successful in it. He was, in fact, the general manager of a manufacturing outfit with eight plants. One day while he was inspecting one of the plants, the personnel director asked him if he would like to meet the new chief engineer. Of course, he would, and did. Dave found himself face-to-face with the man who had fired him 12 years before. Here working for him was the person who had caused him so much grief, pain, and embarrassment.

“I sure made a terrible mistake back then,” the engineer said to Dave when they were alone. “Will you forgive me?”

“Oh, certainly. Forget it,” Dave replied.

Dave said he would forgive, but within himself, he nursed a gnawing bitterness toward this man. His stomach problem returned and he began reliving those confusing, painful days of long ago. He had thought this period of his life was long forgotten, but now he found himself fuming in his plush office, wanting only to get even.

There is a power that will enable you to face your circumstances without distress. It is the power of God, made available to you through the dying of the Lord Jesus. God’s power–and His alone–can make you want to forgive a person who has misused you.

But Dave did not want to forgive that engineer; he wanted to get even. He believed that he had a right to be bitter. He wanted to be free from his aches and pain, but if that meant relinquishing his long-standing grudge, he would rather be in pain.

The only solution was for Dave to quit fighting and turn to God for a spirit of love toward someone who did not deserve it. One day, Dave finally did turn to God for help with his bitterness and hatred. He paid attention to and took care of his own reactions and feelings instead of concerning himself with what the other man had done, and he found himself on the road to peace.

To see your sin is disturbing only if you fight what you discover. If, instead, you admit it and seek help from God, the result is not guilt, but an overwhelming sense of forgiveness, cleansing, renewal, and peace.

[Dr. Henry Brandt shares insights from various people he counseled. The names and certain details in these true case histories have been changed to protect each person’s identity and privacy.]

91052 What Changed Seth’s Heart?

Seth was an atheist. He struggled with pride and thought he was “a good enough person” that he didn’t need to worry about anything else. But that all changed… Seth saw one of our advertisements and was drawn to an article sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. After spending some time mulling over what he read, Seth sent us this:

“This has proven to be the most powerful and convincing article I have ever read on the subject of religion. It is very well written and provides factual information on the existence of Christ while still allowing the reader to relate to recent topics.
I have been a non-believer for most of my life because of my own arrogance and the facts in this article have helped me to realize my sinful ways. I have come to the conclusion that I and my family will begin attending church services regularly and I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I finally understand the true sacrifice that He made for all of us and I am ashamed of the life I have lived not giving Him praise.
I never thought this would be the end result when I began reading this article because I thought that even though I was an atheist I was moral enough and a good enough person to not have to worry about anything else. Honestly I didn’t think anything was missing in my life because I had never stopped to think about what I had been ignoring so blatantly.
These words have made me see the truth and realize it is time for a change. Thank you!”

A new beginning for Seth

Seth, like so many others, needed to understand who Jesus really is before he could understand his own need for a Savior. Although he was an atheist, he was intrigued by a JesusOnline ad that asked, “Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?” This connected him to an article that God used to convince him of the truth of the resurrection. He was then led to “Is Jesus Relevant Today?” which helped him understand how Jesus’ death and resurrection were relevant to his own life, and what action he needed to take.

Seth made a decision that day that he and his family would embark on a new journey, experiencing what it means to follow Christ. He became committed to attending his local church to learn more. His heart became full of praise for what God had done in his life. And it all started with a simple 5¢ advertisement.

Help others like Seth find the truth about Christ

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33136 Bible Verses Related to Anger

Anger

Be angry, and yet do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. (Ephesians 4:26-27, NASB95)

Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool. (Ecclesiastes 7:9, NLT2)

But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! (Matthew 5:22, NLT2)

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger. (Ephesians 4:31, NIV)

Violence

The LORD examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence. (Psalm 11:5, NLT2)

They eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. (Proverbs 4:17, KJV)

Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. (Proverbs 10:6, NIV)

The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions. (Proverbs 10:11, NLT2)

Treacherous people have an appetite for violence. (Proverbs 13:2, NLT2)

All their activity is filled with sin, and violence is their trademark. (Isaiah 59:6, NLT2)

Give up your violence and oppression and do what is just and right. (Ezekiel 45:9, NIV)

Let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. (Jonah 3:8, NASB95)

The trouble they make for others backfires on them. The violence they plan falls on their own heads. (Psalm 7:16, NLT2)

Violent people mislead their companions, leading them down a harmful path. (Proverbs 16:29, NLT2)

Rage

A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident. (Proverbs 14:16, NKJV)

If a wise man goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace. (Proverbs 29:9, NIV)

A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD. (Proverbs 19:3, NIV)

I know you well––where you stay and when you come and go. I know the way you have raged against me. (Isaiah 37:28, NLT2)

Bitterness

Get rid of all bitterness. (Ephesians 4:31, NIV)

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. (Hebrews 12:15, NLT2)

Hatred

Do not hate your brother in your heart. (Leviticus 19:17, NIV)

Hatred stirs up dissension. (Proverbs 10:12, NIV)

Hiding hatred makes you a liar. (Proverbs 10:18, NLT2)

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. (Luke 6:27, NKJV)

You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:43-44, NIV)

Vengefulness

Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. (1 Peter 3:9, NLT2)

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD. (Romans 12:19, NLT2)

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18, NIV)

Do not say, “I’ll do to him as he has done to me; I’ll pay that man back for what he did.” (Proverbs 24:29, NIV)

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. (Romans 12:17, NIV)

See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. (1 Thessalonians 5:15, NASB95)

Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice. (Proverbs 24:17, NIV)

Forgiveness

Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:37, NKJV)

But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. (Mark 11:25, NLT2)

If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (Matthew 6:14, NIV)

Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the LORD to handle the matter. (Proverbs 20:22, NLT2)

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:31-32, NLT2)

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. (Colossians 3:13, NLT2)

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21-22, NIV)

33141 Overindulgence: Enough is Not Enough

There are many ways people may let their appetites get out of control. A mother might spend far more time working out at the gym than she needs to keep in shape, neglecting her family responsibilities in the process. A young person might love the adrenaline rush from thrill-seeking activities, such as extreme skiing and class-5 river rafting, to the point that he risks his life. And what about caffeine? Or cigarettes?

As diverse as are the moral weak points of the human race, so diverse are the forms overindulgence may take. Yet all forms of overindulgence have something in common: they are ways of feeding an appetite. People have a type of hunger, real or perceived, and then try to feed it in a way that is inappropriate. Maybe they are greedy for sensation. Or maybe they have an emotional hurt and are trying to mask it with a high or the yumminess of a dessert or a “fun fix.” Either way, they need to understand their real problem and address it in a healthy way. Overindulgence will only make matters worse.

Of course, there is such a thing as Christian freedom. Some would justify indulging their appetites on the basis of that freedom. But the apostle Paul preempted such an argument: “You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is good for you. And even though ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ I must not become a slave to anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12).

No, we must not become a slave to anything. Not drink. Not drugs. Not food. We must serve God alone. As we do so, He will enable us to make better choices in what we will consume. He will heal us spiritually, enabling us to partake of substances or experiences in moderation (if limited consumption is safe) or keep a distance from whatever substance or experience threatens to destroy us.

Moderation is the proper response when overindulgence often involves substances or experiences that are good in themselves. In itself, food is good; we need it to survive and it provides enjoyment. In themselves, a house and the things we put in it are good; they help us to live our lives in safety and satisfaction. In itself, entertainment is good; it gives us both relaxation and mental stimulation. What’s bad is when we use these good things to the point of excess. Defining what is “excess” is a challenging, personal struggle.

In other cases, however, overindulgence involves substances or experiences that are wrong, period. Shooting heroin, for example, is always illegal and always destructive. The response in a situation like this should be what we might call an extreme form of moderation: abstinence. Here, any indulgence is overindulgence.

Through prayer, you can seek God’s help to know whether moderation or abstinence is right for you in a given instance—and what “moderation” would mean in your case. Moderation is what God wants to see in our lives. As we overindulge in our favorite ways, God grieves because He knows we are not filling ourselves with what we really need, and that is more of Himself. We can never get too much of God.

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[The preceding article is an extract from Chapter 12 of Soul Prescription by Bill Bright and Henry Brandt.]

33142 Five Steps to Overcome Overindulgence

Are you struggling with some form of overindulgence? We have outlined a five-step process to help you change and heal in this area of your life. Take all the time you need with each of the steps in this article.

Step 1: Adopt a Correct View of God

If you are overindulgent with yourself, it is important that you understand God better as the loving Father. He has promised you that He will always provide for your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. You do not need to stuff yourself with whatever you can get your hands on.

God is all-knowing. He designed you and knows what would make you the happiest.

“I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

God is love. He will always give you only what is good for you.

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. (James 1:17)

God is faithful. He will always provide for your needs.

The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. (Psalm 84:11)

Do not let a warped view of God justify your overindulgent lifestyle any longer. Undertake a search of Scripture for passages that depict God as your provider who satisfies you.

Step 2: Revise Your False Beliefs

God has called you to a life of holiness and moderate living. When you choose a different course for life, it proves that you really do not believe God will hold you accountable for your actions.

The following questions are designed to expose false beliefs of overindulgence.

Do you believe you have the right to party excessively?

You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. (1 Peter 4:3)

Do you believe you have no choice in controlling your appetites?

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. (Romans 8:12)

Do you believe you are not responsible for your sinful overindulgence?

We are each responsible for our own conduct. (Galatians 6:5)

Try as you may, you just cannot lay the responsibility for your excessive self-indulgence on the shoulders of anyone other than yourself. Learn from Scripture what is really true about self-indulgent behavior versus self-control.

Step 3: Repent of Your Sin

You must make the decision to turn away from your lifestyle of overindulgence and to disconnect your heart, mind, and spirit from that which enslaves you. Give your particular type of over-indulgence a name (drunkenness, gluttony, or whatever else it may be).

Confess your sin to God and ask His forgiveness. If you wish, you can use the following prayer (inserting your own sin in the blank).

Father, I have sinned against you by _________. I know that this hurts You, and I am sorry for that. Please forgive me for the sake of Christ. Make me clean, Lord, removing from my heart the desires that have enslaved me. Fill me with the Holy Spirit, and through Him give me the strength to walk the path of righteousness one day at a time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

If you have harmed others with your sin, apologize to them. Seek reconciliation and offer restitution where appropriate.

Step 4: Defend against Spiritual Attacks

Now that you have repented and been set free from your sin, this freedom must be defended. You have to understand the tactics of your enemies and defend against them accordingly.

The world tells you, “It’s your body and you can do what you want with it.” Overcome the world system by rejecting such a distorted value. Embrace the value God places on self-control and moderation over self-indulgence. Listen to Him and not to the world.
Your flesh wants the gratifications of physical sensations. So when such desires arise, remember that your flesh is dead; you are now living by the Spirit. You do not have to do what your flesh wants.

Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. (Galatians 6:8)

Satan will encourage you to satisfy your desires for excessive self-indulgence. Hold up the “shield of faith” to stop the fiery arrows of the devil (Ephesians 6:16), showing you realize that ungodly self-indulgence does not offer lasting satisfaction.

The temptation to overindulge oneself tends to be especially persistent in a person’s life. Plan on remaining vigilant toward your enemies’ attacks for the rest of your life. The battle is long, but in God’s power you can be victorious.

Step 5: Flee Temptation

Take proactive measures if you wish to remain free from the sin of overindulgence. By reducing temptation, you can improve the chances of your success.

Focus on your relationship with God.

Start every day with God. Give Him your attention and devotion instead of concentrating on the thing that once held you captive to your selfish desires. Consider fasting periodically as a reminder that “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

Latch on to God’s promises.

Find truths in Scripture that will encourage you in your resistance to the temptations of overindulgence. Memorize key verses for recall when you need them. Here is one verse we recommend:

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self–control. There is no law against these things! (Galatians 5:22–23, emphasis added)

Establish safeguards.

What situations tend to encourage your excessive self-indulgence? Take decisive action to avoid those situations as much as possible. For example:

If you are irresponsible in your eating, plan reasonable menus a week at a time and buy only what you will need.
If you get drunk, remove all the alcohol from your house, ask your friends not to serve alcohol when you are around, and never go to an eating establishment that serves liquor.
If you watch too much TV, get rid of your television set or put a timer on it.
Ask a trusted Christian friend to hold you accountable in your commitment to not overindulge.

Expect victory.

You have the Spirit of God living in you and imparting to you everything you need to win this fight. Yield to Him daily in anticipation of total deliverance from your sin habit. When you do this, He will replace your self-indulgent desires with moderation and self-control.

33145 Finding Freedom from Overindulgence – A True Story

King Solomon, who is described in the Bible as the wisest and richest of men, wrote of his efforts to taste of everything life has to offer. He sampled wisdom, mirth and pleasure, wine and folly; he built houses, vineyards, orchards, gardens.

He had servants and maidens, silver and gold. The Book of Ecclesiastes contains twelve chapters describing his quest. He concluded: “Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun” (Eccl. 2:11).

Sooner or later, all our efforts to find peace from this world turn to ashes. When we slow down or are trapped by circumstances and people, the tension, restlessness, anxiety, and frustration return. The activities available to us can help relieve the effects of unpleasant feelings and negative emotions, but can’t remove them.

There is a deeper kind of peace than the kind that simply relives body and mind. It comes when you yield yourself to God and let His peace invade your soul. Take time to focus on God and ask Him to show you where you are overindulgent in your life. Repent of this sin and allow God to lead you into moderation as well as a place of peace and contentment.

[Dr. Henry Brandt shares insights from various people he counseled. The names and certain details in these true case histories have been changed to protect each person’s identity and privacy.]

33146 Bible Verses Related to Overindulgence