-St. John 3:6-7
I am born again. God revealed himself to me and opened my heart to understanding Him and how to become saved. And in becoming born again, I am a complete new creature in Christ. All that I was has passed away and all that God wants me to be is being loosed.
Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
-Matthew 18:18
What does this mean? It means that we must use the Word of God in our lives to help us bind the things we don't want in our lives such as disease, lack, famine, poverty, and anything else negative. It means we must use the Word of God in our lives to help loose the things we need such as ears to heed to the voice of God, eyes to see His plan for us, and a loving nature for all mankind.
I am a changed man by God. People do not change people, only God does. But it doesn't happen overnight. This is something that takes time and though I may be born again now, I am still working at getting to where God wants me to stand firm.
Just several weeks ago, I officially decided to abstain from alcohol. My opinion of it had changed when I first discovered God's calling but I never fully quit drinking. While I would not get drunk or drink hard liquor anymore, I didn't give up drinking one or two once every few weeks or for really special occasions. Well, I finally feel ready to shut the door on it once and for all. There are many reasons to stop drinking.
1. Alcohol has been the source of many lives lost, families broken, and marriages destroyed.
2. Alcohol is unhealthy for the body, plain and simple.
3. Alcohol allows your body to "let go" and lose control. Forgive me if I offend anyone, but I have no desire in "losing control" of myself.
Furthermore today, I have made a decision to embark on a journey that may seem even more bold. I do not wish to have anymore "fast foods" ever again. I have tried to abstain from it before only to end up desperate for a meal and craving Taco Bell. Well, I feel that I need to bind fast food and loose a healthy diet into my life. The body is the temple for the Holy Ghost and for that reason, we must take care of ourselves. Watching our diet is a great thing to do not just for yourself but for God.
While I am not completely ready to give up all types of fast foods, I have decided to give up McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Sonic, White Castle, Taco Bell, KFC, Burger Express, and any other miscellaneous burger-joint. The few restaurants I will allow are Subway, Chipotle, Chic-fil-A, pizza, chinese takeout, and various other sub/deli shops. Hopefully within time I will have the means necessary to provide myself with a strict diet that will be acceptable to God and to maintaining the greatest possible condition for my body.
When I look back at my life, I sometimes have a difficult time remembering why I did half the things I used to do. I sometimes have a hard time remembering who I was. I feel that this is because God changes people in a way that they truly do become "born again" into a new state of mind and body. This spiritual rebirth isn't just symbolic, it is real. God is really working when we release the Word of God into our lives, our situations, and anything we desire. God doesn't just work for me, He wants to and can work for everyone. No matter who you are and no matter what your situation (how small or big), Jesus Christ loves you and He wants you to live your life to the fullest potential.
They say that there is a broad path to destruction and a narrow path to salvation. This is the truth. Look at Cain and Abel in Genesis. Cain's worship to God was unacceptable but Abel's worship was looked at by God with favor. I tell you the truth, there are not too many options to choose from when being saved. It is pretty much the same for everyone. But as you may notice, there are more than enough options for not being saved. As Cain and Abel have taught us, there is a right way to worship and a wrong way.
And with a new covenant being made by the blood of Jesus Christ, there is only one path to salvation: Christ. Accept Christ as your God and you will become born again. Repent and seek the Lord diligently. Don't be afraid to take that great leap. Don't end up in that downward spiral. It's a broad path to destruction which means there are many ways to go but only one right way. And if you're not on the right path, it doesn't matter which of the other several paths you're on, it all leads to the same place: nowhere. Ask God to lead you today. Pray to Him and He will change your heart. He will increase your understanding. You will find a new smile. God is alive.
Be blessed!
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