(Introduction excerpt from “Don’t Give In – God Wants You to Win”)
© 2009, Harvest House Publishers, All Rights Reserved.

Sometimes I enjoy talking to myself. Well, they do say it’s good to talk to somebody intelligent at least once a day.  But I’ve learned to be careful about what I say to myself, especially if I’m giving myself the third degree like a lawyer in a courtroom.  Or maybe I should I say the thirty-question degree—as I’ve done below. I started asking myself questions and just couldn’t seem to stop.  Have you ever…

• felt the world was closing in on you?
• wondered why your life in is chaos and you had done nothing to cause it?
• questioned God about your pitiful circumstances?
• tried to figure out why people hurt you and seem unkind go you?
• whined about your physical condition?
• been financially broke?
• worried about your health?
• cried over a wayward child?
• blamed yourself for a failed relationship?
• found it hard to forgive someone who has wronged you?
• committed a sin that you knew compromised your faith, but you deliberately kept doing it over and over again?
• degraded or judged someone because of their sex, age, physical condition, or ethnicity?
• neglected to help someone who you knew was in serious need?
• gossiped?
• caused embarrassment or shame to anyone?
• thought you had to perform for God to earn his love?
• manipulated other people―or even God―to get what you want?
• neglected, abandoned, or abused anyone—even yourself?
• considered yourself better or less than someone else?
• wanted something that did not belong to you?
• been greedy?
• been jealous?
• embellished the truth?
• given more attention to something else than you gave to the Lord?
• tried to control the decisions and actions of other adults?
• encouraged or enticed someone to do the wrong thing?
• cheated anyone, any business, or the government out of what you owe them?
• used a mind-altering substance or activity to cover up your pain?
• struggled with self-esteem issues?
• been caught up in a fight that wasn’t yours, but you were determined to win?

The Battle We’re In

These thirty questions are just samples of the kinds of things we’re involved in daily—things that let us know we’re in a spiritual battle. This battle is about whether our bodies, souls, and minds will be given over to evil. It’s a battle of our endeavors to cajole people, situations, and circumstances—our attempts to play God with our lives. The answers to these thirty questions reveal how our self-centeredness and selfishness are personified—and how mercy, justice, grace, and favor are nullified. They leave little place for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to be magnified.

So, what are we going to do?  Are you ready to win?

(Add your comments to this blog and share specific examples of how you have overcome the battles that have raged against you, your family and your friends.)

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