the conviction about lust

it's amazing how many things we struggle with. how many things take firm holds in our lives. and we don't even notice them.

last night we talked during the beginning of youth group about the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.
I always thought I was pretty good at keeping those under control. I don't read dirty magazines or watch dirty movies. I've never purposefully put myself in a situation where I'd be tempted. I always try to act very humbly.
but wow, I suck at it.

the lust of the eyes can be things like looking longingly after that iPod. car.
the lust of the flesh can be wanting to look perfect before we walk out the door. letting food be your primary objective during the day. (which, by the way, I'm guilty of a thousand times over...I do enjoy eating quite a bit)
the pride of life can be thinking "what the heck, I'll only live once." being determined to make yourself comfortable.

some of these things aren't bad.
it's natural for us to want nice things. iPods and cars aren't evil. looking good isn't bad. eating is a necessity to life. true, you only will live once. enjoy it. being comfortable is ok. every once in a while, we need to give stress a break.
but are you lusting after these things?


LUST- a passionate or overmastering desire or craving


hmm.
I lust after quite a few things.
I let them come before God.
in my sinful nature, I simply have to have them.

it's disgusting, really.
once I realized how many things I lusted after, I was quite disappointed in myself. I found my self rather objectionable.

so, another challenge for you all.
look at your daily life;
--what do you spend most of your time thinking about?
--do you ever put it before God?
--which category does it fall under? (lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, pride of life)



wow, I'd really love for all of my crap just to go away.
but I have a feeling it'll be a little harder than that.
grace, strength, wisdom, and conviction.
those are just some of the things that the Holy Spirit gives us to
kick lust to the curb.

And so it begins...

so, I was going to be cool.
and not get one of these.
'cause you know, everyone was getting one.

but then everyone had one.

and so I succumbed.


anyways.

I was looking through my journal that sits next to my bed. It has everything. everything over the last few years. as I skimmed through it (as I often do) I noticed a line that I had put in a box so to seperate it from the rest of my writing.

infuse my soul. You are pure satisfaction.

wow.
So often I am wrapped in myself and how I can satisfy myself.
but that line, pure satisfaction.

imagine that you don't desire money. clothes. popularity. cool friends. killer looks with a perfect body to go along with. you don't desire attention, you don't desire revenge.
He is all you desire.
He is your pure, your perfect, satisfaction.

I came to the realization recently that I think about myself nearly constantly. we hear this all the time. "I'm selfish. I think about me all the time." but it's one thing to really come to that realization on your own. I constantly worry about how something will affect me. I want to be continuously happy. I am devoted to me.

so I'm listening to this Hillsong CD that my parents got me for Valentines Day (music...it's how they show me they love me haha (: )
and they keep repeating this line
I offer You devotion

devotion is a pretty all-encompassing thing.
it doesn't leave a whole lot of room for selfishness.

hmm.
it doesn't leave a whole lot of room for selfishness.