Daily Devotional

LIFE IN CHRIST CHANGES OLD HABITS

August 13

eloved of God, do you realize the effects that your personality and way of handling things is having on other people? It would be good for you to take spiritual inventory of your actions, thoughts and dealings with others who are important gifts of God in your life. You are a Christian. You expect the blessings of God to flow in your life and in the life of your marriage and home. However, if your attitudes and actions are hurting and tearing down others, you are responsible for this behavior. If you use the excuse (and it is an excuse and not a good reason) that you had a bad childhood, or poor parenting, this is a foolish excuse that you are using to endorse your own irresponsible and evil behavior. Stop it today! Your Father is overseeing your life, and when the Spirit of Christ is ignored in the way that you behave toward others He is grieved by the way that you speak harshly and in a degrading manner to others. You have no excuse whatsoever for this treatment of your loved ones! How do you expect to explain this harshness and meanness to the Lord in the "Judgment" day? Don't wait till then, you can make this offering in prayer to your Father in Heaven, and He will forgive you this sin and make your hardened heart tender: "Father, I have often run over those that I love. I have taken them for granted, or simply have not valued them highly enough as true gifts from heaven to me. For this I have sinned in your presence. I do not intend to live out my life dominating and grieving others that I love. I need you to humble me and break the authority of the Evil One that I have given into by my actions! I truly need your power released in my life to deliver me from this pride and selfish way, in Jesus' name, amen!" Well, Child of God. Be honest with your loved ones and admit your foolish behavior and treatment of them. Who knows, you may be able to have your marriage or relationships redeemed and made whole if you will but humble yourself. Love from heaven!

Prayer

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Father, I could not make it in this world without the instructions of your Holy Spirit. I have done damage to those that I love by my poor attitudes and treatment of them. I ask for true forgiveness, and I repent of this evil in Jesus' name, amen!