This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that
ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their
mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life
of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness
of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto
lasciviousness.
There's a subtle strategy Satan uses to take control of our lives. The Bible calls it lasciviousness and it means "to have no restraint."
Lasciviousness
has been preached as being extreme immorality, but it doesn't start out
that way. It begins with just a few seemingly innocent thoughts. Then
those thoughts grow and grow until they begin to produce serious sin.
One
afternoon as a 9-year-old boy, for example, I just yielded to the
desire to curse. I knew better, but I did it anyway. I had a relative
who was so good at West Texas cussin' that I thought he invented it. I
was impressed and I wanted to try it.
When I let go of all
restraint and began to say those curse words, something evil moved in on
my thinking that seriously affected me for some 20 years. A law was set
in motion. As a result, my flesh gradually became boss over my entire
being.
Don't let Satan use the strategy of lasciviousness on you.
Make up your mind and heart today to obey God in the little things.
Avoid big failures by walking in His Spirit one small step at a time.
Major victories will eventually be yours.
