Day 6 | 21-Day Growth Challenge | "Preparation for a Future Without Seduction"

Saturday, September 04, 2010 Bryan Hudson 11 Comments







SCRIPTURE:
Proverbs 5:7 (NLT)  So now, my sons, listen to me. Never stray from what I am about to say: 8 Stay away from her! Don’t go near the door of her house! 9 If you do, you will lose your honor and will lose to merciless people all you have achieved.10 Strangers will consume your wealth, and someone else will enjoy the fruit of your labor.

INSIGHT: 
In Proverbs Chapter Five, Solomon illustrates the necessity of wisdom by personifying a lack of wisdom and discernment as an immoral woman (verses 1-6). He creates this "person" to embody the dangers of failing to listen to wise counsel. Sadly, later in his life, Solomon betrayed his own wisdom and fell prey to the same dangers he so vividly portrayed. During the season of wisdom in his life, verses 15-20 highlight the necessity of recognizing marriage as the only proper relationship for sexual intimacy.

On the subject of "Prosperity God's Way," notice that some of the consequences of being seduced by the "immorality" of not listening to God included; "Losing honor," "Falling prey to merciless people," and allowing "strangers" to "consume your wealth." The things that God wants us to have, even before we possess them, belong to us. Enjoying healthy, holy relationships belongs to you before you begin dating and courting. Listening to God, receiving His Word, and His wisdom prepares you for a future without the "immoral person" trying to drag you to places you don't belong.

The warning is loud and clear later in the text from Proverbs 5:21 "For the Lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes. An evil man is held captive by his own sins;  they are ropes that catch and hold him. 23 He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness."


We want God to see us choosing His path. By His grace we will!

PRAYER:
"Lord, lead me along the path of wisdom. Help me to always listen to Your so that I might avoid the immorality of rejecting wisdom. I will listen to your wisdom and be preserved by You to inherit your blessings and favor. In Jesus' Name, Amen!"

ACTIVATION: 
(Use comment section below to share your insights. Record sensitive items in your personal journal. You can login or simply use your first name.)
  1. How does listening to God's wisdom help you avoid being seduced by immoral factors?
  2. What actions will you take today related to this lesson?
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COMMENT SECTION:
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11 comments :

  1. 1)God's wisdom helps you avoid being seduced by immoral factors by shining the light on sinful behaviors and giving detailed instructions on how to live a holy life.

    2)Today I will ask God to keep me from all sinful behaviors, to teach me his ways and lead me on the path of righteousness.

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  2. 1.) I believe immorality starts in your thoughts and in your mind. We have the power to rebuke those thoughts and think on other things. Also, when I submit myself to God and tell him everything in prayer he reveals to me areas within myself that need to be changed. Ultimately, I have already made the conscious choice to abide by God's laws and I know he has already given me grace to triumph through every temptation before I ever encounter one.

    2.)I will continue to be completely honest with God about everything. If we never acknowledge our weaknesses or our feelings of temptation to God in order to receive grace we are lying to ourselves! God knows all things anyway! I know I can always ask God for help when I need it, rather that just pretending or avoiding a situation. When we think to ourselves "I can handle it" or "I've got this" that is when we fall prey to temptation. As Christians, we must acknowledge our weakness to God and remember where our victory and strength comes from.

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  3. 1) We know hearing God words is life itslef and applying wisdom help us to have a stronger walk with God.

    2)I will continue to listen and here God.cj

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  4. 1. How does listening to God's word help you avoid being seduced by immoral factors?
    a) God's word tells you how to recognize immoral acts from the examples of other people in the bible. What and when to say yes or no to a situations we might find ourselves in. Not everything in life do you have to experience first hand to know what to do.
    2. Actions to take to avoid seduction is to a)Stop acting as if you don't know what's going on.
    b)Just stay away from things that will entangle you. Most of us know what we CAN'T handle.
    c) If Jesus was there would he say, "Nice Move".
    Would he be there at all?
    -Davis

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  5. 1. Listening to God's wisdom, gives us discernment in the situation, strength to say no, and strength to move forward. Listening also helps us to look at the big picture and make the right decisions.

    2. I will pray for God's leading and my obedience. I will also share His wisdom with someone today.

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  6. 1. Listening to God’s wisdom illuminates the correct life decisions we should make, thereby allowing us to recognize unwise or evil choices. Psalms 119:105 (NLT) states, Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Thus, the wisdom inherent in God’s Word will only direct us down righteous paths and if we listen to that wisdom, we will never stray because we will recognize all other paths as appearing dark.
    2. I will continue to study and practice God’s Word in order to avoid the dark paths of sin.

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  7. 1.Listening to God’s wisdom helps me to avoid being seduced by immoral factors in that it prepares my heart and soul to keep on desiring what God wants me to have in healthy, holy relationships while living single before marriage; keeps me in the fear of the Lord, not wanting to displease him, considering the clear warning of the results of immoral choices, and knowing that He sees all that I do; helps me to be alert to guard against being put in situations where my self control is tested; and, reminds me that I desire to stand fast in the freedom for which Christ has set me free, to love and serve Him and people.
    2.The actions I will take today, by the grace of God, is to continue to honor the Lord with my body, the temple of the Holy Spirit who lives in me and to respect the relationships I have in regard to my family, the family of God, and with other people in the world.

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  8. 1. How does listening to God's wisdom help you avoid being seduced by immoral factors?
    Listening to God help me avoid being seduced by immoral factors because as I listen I see examples of how to live life and examples of how not to live life. God will show you how to avoid debt, sickness and many painful lessons when you do things His way.

    2. What actions will you take today related to this lesson?
    Today I will keep listening to God for direction.

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  9. God gives you a clear understanding of how to avoid situations that will lead you down that path of seduction and immorality. In His word God teaches us to guard our hearts with all dilligence, so that we are not lead astray by silly women and men.

    The action we will take today related to this lesson is to always meditate on the word of God, and ponder the consequences before taking any actions that could change life forever.

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  10. How does listening to God's wisdom help you avoid being seduced by immoral factors?

    Every problem that mankind has ever experienced involved disobedience to the commandments that God has set forth for us. It began with the Garden of Eden - up until now in my life and yours. Both then and now, we choose to be disobedient for whatever reasons and then try to justify why we are doing the thing that God said not to do. Following God's wisdom keeps you from making poor choices.

    I know there is a consequence to pay for not doing things God's way. It is easy to convince yourself that a little bit of poison will not kill you. But when we follow God's word totally, that's when the real blessing comes. Although it is hard to wait for many desires and pleasures to be fulfilled in out life, I know from personal experience that waiting and following God's way always saves heartache.

    Immoral choices do not please God, nor do they benefit the one who chooses to follow that path. Immoral choices don't only deal with physical desires, I think they deal with following after anything or anyone that pulls you away or seduces you from loving God and following his way instead of choosing your own personal beliefs - and -- giving them more credibility than we give God's words.

    What actions will you take today related to this lesson?
    Continue to meditate on what God's word says to do and deliberately choose to follow a path of love for God, myself and others. Jesus said, "If you love me, you keep my commandments" - I say, "Even the ones that are not comfortable or convenient".

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  11. 1. We all have a deep attraction within us for things we like, that may look good to the eye but not good for us. That is why the bible continuously warns us to flee, run, take flight, get out. God knows the deep areas of us even more than we, after all he is our creator,keeper, and deliverer - many times delivering us from our own desires and emotions. We'd like to think we are so holy and know our limits, but God helps us to see in the darkness, what we sometimes miss in the light, for He is not a man that He should lie or be tempted.
    2. Action taken: I won't trust what I think, know or feel about me and my strengths. I'll focus on the word and stay before God concerning my thoughts, desires, and trustworthyness. Remembering that even our best without the direction of God...is as filthy rags.

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