Change...

For those of you who, like me, sometimes get down on yourselves when thinking about the ongoing battles we have with the flesh, I thought the following quote I heard at the conference was very relevant. Sometimes it is demoralizing to continue to battle the same temptations and weaknesses and we think that healing or improvement can only occur through change and the complete removal of these temptations. That is not always God's answer though. Personally I think the continued presence of some of my temptations, although in many ways certainly having improved over the past couple of years, serve to keep me humble and continually seeking Christ. They continually remind me that I need Him as Savior and Healer and that the answer is always more of Him and less of me.

"Change is not the absence of struggles, but change is the freedom to choose holiness in the midst of our struggles."

Every time we choose not to give in to our temptations, we gain victory in Christ through that struggle and that is what leads us to holiness, not necessarily the complete removal of the temptation or struggle.

How have your own personal struggles and temptations drawn you closer and more dependent on Christ? I never thought I would say this, but I am grateful for my struggles with living out holiness in the face of my fleshly desires and same sex attractions. Thank you God for using my sin to convict me of my need for a Savior and drawing me to You.