Weapons of Self-Destruction

I just got a lot out of a sermon by Rick Warren on ways that we destroy ourselves or our own minds.  Here they are and their antidotes:


Shame is the first weapon of self-destruction that we have. Shame, I would also say, is the number one thing that leads us into sin. Like the saying goes, when we feel ugly, we act ugly. If we feel like a sinner, we will act like a sinner.


Here is the antidote to shame: Always remember that Jesus died for YOU. Remember that you now belong to God. Remember that God does NOT condemn you anymore for anything once you are saved according to Romans 8:1. Remember that you have the Holy Spirit's power inside of you and you can now be "more than a conqueror" over sin.  Amen!


Uncontrolled thoughts is the next biggest weapon of self-destruction. When we can't control our thoughts, we can't control our actions. Anyone that wants to become better in any way needs to learn to control their thinking. We do this with the power of the Holy Spirit.


The best antidote to uncontrolled thoughts is to ask the Holy Spirit to give you better thoughts. Ask him to help you think on only good and positive things instead of negative things. Ask him to help you set your mind on what God thinks of your life rather than what you think. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you faith filled thoughts! :)


Compulsions is another self destructive behavior that we have. These come from our sinful nature. Our flesh screams out that we must do something and at times we follow that compulsion. This always leads to sin.


The best antidote to compulsions is to realize that you can now say no to your flesh. Before being saved we are slaves to sin, but after salvation we have the power of the Holy Spirit in us that enables us to say no to our flesh. Amen.


Fear is the next biggest way that we can self destruct. Fear keeps us from living the life that God intended us to live. Fear keeps us under Satan's power, but "perfect love casts out all fear." When we realize how much God loves us, our fears melt away.


The best antidote to fear is to trust God. We need to call out to God when we are afraid and ask for his protection and provision. We need to keep our focus on God rather than on our fears. We need to always remember that we are a child of God and that he is taking care of us. Amen!


Another self-destructive habit it hopelessness. Hope gives you energy to accomplish things. Hopelessness gives you depression and immobilizes you. You can't or won't do much at all if you don't have any hope. Hopelessness takes all of the life right out of you.


The best way to combat hopelessness is to focus on the long term instead of the short term. Focus on heaven and not life as it is now. Paul says, "Our light and momentary troubles are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." For the Christian, we should always have hope, because we know that someday God will "wipe away every tear from our eyes and there will be no more pain and no more mourning." We know that this too shall pass and one day we will live in eternal bliss with our father and our savior. Amen!


Another self-destructive habit, or way of thinking, is bitterness. When someone else gets what we want, we can get bitter. When a tragedy happens in our lives, we can get bitter.


The best antidote to bitterness is thankfulness. Forcing yourself to be thankful for what you do have, rather than being bitter about what you don't have. Also you need to remind yourself that God is good and in control. Remember that the Holy Spirit is always praying for you. Remember that all things work together for good, eventually. :) Realize that God wants you to succeed. And remember that God will give you what you need. He may not give you everything you want, but he will give you everything that you need. Amen.


The last self-destructive thinking pattern is insecurity. If we are insecure we won't have the courage or confidence to do much at all. We will always see fault in whatever we are doing. We won't be victorious the way God intends for us to be in life and over Satan.


To combat insecurity we need to remember that God will never leave us. We need to trust that God will never stop loving us. People in your life may have stopped loving you or rejected you, but God NEVER will. Amen.


Joshua said "Today I lay before you life and death. Chose life that you might live." Deliberately choose to retrain your mind so that you are no longer thinking self-destructive thoughts but rather life giving thoughts. "The mind controlled by the spirit is life and peace." Amen. You can do it! God bless :)

　
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtRAYHXZcZg