Advice #12
ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU
Ralph Sorter
Have you ever voiced these words? “I don’t need someone else getting me into trouble, I get in enough trouble myself.” Even if you haven’t, I have an idea they are true for you anyway. Our sin nature speaks real loud in our ears (the miniature guy in the red suit sitting on your shoulder). Some people have enough self-discipline to overcome many temptations, but none of us are strong enough to overcome them all. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23) If you think otherwise, you’ve been deceived and you’re a liar. (1 Jn. 1:10)
Since the cliff is just around the corner for all of us, I have a bit of advice: People who set up “guardrails” don’t drive over cliffs!
We mess up because we put little effort into prevention. As long as you drive on the straight, level road, you don’t need the guardrails. But if you haven’t put them in place, there’s a strong probability you will nose-dive over the cliff on the next blind corner. As for blind corners, you don’t know where they are until you find yourself in the middle of one. Satan designs temptations to catch you off guard. And by the way, there’s no “Kings X” territory on life’s road…there’s no “sanctuary” where you can hide. You know that’s true. How many of you have had tempting thoughts right here in church? I thought so. Me too.
So what are the guardrails? 1) Ask your spouse to be your accountability partner. Tell them to hold you accountable concerning your eyes, hands, feet and heart. Give them permission to hold you accountable any time without advanced notice. 2) Find a prayer partner that you trust and can call anytime day or night. Ask for that “arrow prayer” that’s shot straight to the heart of God, pleading for strength to resist temptation. 3) Memorize Scripture specific to your temptations. Satan hates the Sword!
Seem a bit harsh? Then you choose: handrail…or cliff?!
A Message from HOPE’S
Marriage & Family Ministry
ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU
Ralph Sorter
Have you ever voiced these words? “I don’t need someone else getting me into trouble, I get in enough trouble myself.” Even if you haven’t, I have an idea they are true for you anyway. Our sin nature speaks real loud in our ears (the miniature guy in the red suit sitting on your shoulder). Some people have enough self-discipline to overcome many temptations, but none of us are strong enough to overcome them all. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23) If you think otherwise, you’ve been deceived and you’re a liar. (1 Jn. 1:10)
Since the cliff is just around the corner for all of us, I have a bit of advice: People who set up “guardrails” don’t drive over cliffs!
We mess up because we put little effort into prevention. As long as you drive on the straight, level road, you don’t need the guardrails. But if you haven’t put them in place, there’s a strong probability you will nose-dive over the cliff on the next blind corner. As for blind corners, you don’t know where they are until you find yourself in the middle of one. Satan designs temptations to catch you off guard. And by the way, there’s no “Kings X” territory on life’s road…there’s no “sanctuary” where you can hide. You know that’s true. How many of you have had tempting thoughts right here in church? I thought so. Me too.
So what are the guardrails? 1) Ask your spouse to be your accountability partner. Tell them to hold you accountable concerning your eyes, hands, feet and heart. Give them permission to hold you accountable any time without advanced notice. 2) Find a prayer partner that you trust and can call anytime day or night. Ask for that “arrow prayer” that’s shot straight to the heart of God, pleading for strength to resist temptation. 3) Memorize Scripture specific to your temptations. Satan hates the Sword!
Seem a bit harsh? Then you choose: handrail…or cliff?!
A Message from HOPE’S
Marriage & Family Ministry
ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU
Ralph Sorter
Have you ever voiced these words? “I don’t need someone else getting me into trouble, I get in enough trouble myself.” Even if you haven’t, I have an idea they are true for you anyway. Our sin nature speaks real loud in our ears (the miniature guy in the red suit sitting on your shoulder). Some people have enough self-discipline to overcome many temptations, but none of us are strong enough to overcome them all. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23) If you think otherwise, you’ve been deceived and you’re a liar. (1 Jn. 1:10)
Since the cliff is just around the corner for all of us, I have a bit of advice: People who set up “guardrails” don’t drive over cliffs!
We mess up because we put little effort into prevention. As long as you drive on the straight, level road, you don’t need the guardrails. But if you haven’t put them in place, there’s a strong probability you will nose-dive over the cliff on the next blind corner. As for blind corners, you don’t know where they are until you find yourself in the middle of one. Satan designs temptations to catch you off guard. And by the way, there’s no “Kings X” territory on life’s road…there’s no “sanctuary” where you can hide. You know that’s true. How many of you have had tempting thoughts right here in church? I thought so. Me too.
So what are the guardrails? 1) Ask your spouse to be your accountability partner. Tell them to hold you accountable concerning your eyes, hands, feet and heart. Give them permission to hold you accountable any time without advanced notice. 2) Find a prayer partner that you trust and can call anytime day or night. Ask for that “arrow prayer” that’s shot straight to the heart of God, pleading for strength to resist temptation. 3) Memorize Scripture specific to your temptations. Satan hates the Sword!
Seem a bit harsh? Then you choose: handrail…or cliff?!
A Message from HOPE’S
Marriage & Family Ministry