Lust of the eyes and the Pride of life Part 2

"Tomorrow. Let's do it tomorrow."

Rocky's head isn't in the game, and Apollo's eyes light up with a furious rage.

"There is no tomorrow! There is no tomorrow!" he screams back.

I've heard David Goggins echo the same sentiment.

"Let's say you're in extreme cold water.

Every time that wave goes over your head, your thought process is, I gotta get out of this water.

And you're hour 1 of 130 hours.

I gotta get out of here, you're in fight or flight.

It's cold, I can't be cold for this long.

And this is where that "one second" decision comes in.

It's about gaining control of your mind, putting things back in proper perspective, and then saying "I really do wanna be here".

And I'm gonna have a bunch of these "1 seconds" through these 130 hours, and I have to learn to control these.

Cause if I fail, one of these "one seconds" I will not be a seal, I will not be a doctor, I will not be a lawyer..."

That's why I don't count the days in my purity walk like I'm counting days for being sober or for some other milestone.

When it comes to this battle, it's not a streak to keep track of, it's a present state of mind.

There is no tomorrow.

There is no yesterday, either.

There is only today and the immediate battle of the flesh you face.

Right here, right now.

Nothing else matters.

The lust demons don't care about your 900 day streak.

If every day is a rung on a ladder, you'll start to feel the fear of being so high up and how long of a way down that mistake will send you, and they'll just use that number against you when you fail to trap you in despair.

When Jesus told his disciples how to pray, he told them to ask for "daily bread."

Those wandering with Moses in the wilderness were instructed to do the same.

"Everyone is to gather as much as they need." they were told, and "no one is to keep any of it until morning."

"However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell." as Exodus chapter 16 records.

Are you starting to get the idea?

One day at a time.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Jesus tells a crowd later on in Mathew's Gospel.

And you, Christian.

What is God calling you to do, in this season of purity?

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."

Every single day.

First thing in the morning before your feet hit the floor your knees better get there first, because the only way you will succeed in this battle is if you deny yourself, and get up under that cross.

Now I know, many of you get under that cross as I have myself and wonder how you are going to possibly carry such a burden.

How will you have the strength required to turn from the easy road of sensual gratification, and instead take the narrow road of self denial and selfless service to others.

How do we choose this day the difficult but permanent state of being, and refuse that much easier but temporary respite from the pangs and toils of our daily lives.

The burden of righteousness under that cross is immense, the weight of it is staggering, and you don't know how to take your next step without collapsing, let alone walking out the rest of the day.

It's not enough to get under it, how can we even carry such a soul crushing burden?

Here's the good news.

You can't.

Listen closely to Jesus words.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Do you know what a yoke is?

It is a wooden beam fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to a plow. 

More importantly, a yoke allows the two to share a load and pull together.

You don't have to carry the cross by yourself.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, he'll carry it with you, and if you're like me most days, he'll carry all of it.

You want to win?

Victory over lust, Eternal life and life here and now to the fullest?

Get under your cross and ask Jesus to help bear it with you.

Ask him every morning, one day at a time.

He's right there with you, so lean on His strength for this day today.

Don't worry about tomorrow, don't think about yesterday.

You only need strength for today.