Lust is as natural to us as breathing. Our flesh nature lives to fulfil its selfish desires. It never gets enough or stops wanting more. Alternatively, our new nature craves more of what satisfies the Holy Spirit who lives in our redeemed spirit. We’re more familiar with the appeal of the flesh because we have invested more time and energy in nurturing it. We understand its urgency, its appeal, its control, and its compelling tug. But as we invest equal time and energy in what pleases the Holy Spirit, we experience the fulfilment and power the Spirit alone can bring. So what does ‘living in the Spirit’ really mean? Paul tells us, ‘Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh’ and ‘Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place’ (2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV). There is a way to live above the gravitational pull of the flesh, a way that beats living in a constant cycle of defeat/repentance/defeat. Granted, God is a God of forgiveness and restoration who accepts the genuine confessions from the hearts of His people, and forgives all our transgressions (see 1 John 1:9). But ‘abundant life’ means living where most of your time is spent rejoicing in victory. Just as living in the flesh implies living in accordance with the edicts of your human nature, living in the Spirit implies living in accordance with the guidance of the Holy Spirit as outlined in God’s Word. And the end result is that ‘you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh’.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

According to Jesus, lust is preceded by temptation and can lead to sin (see Matthew 5:27-28). But the good news about dealing with temptation is that you’re not alone. God’s Word tells us, ‘No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it’ (v. 13 NKJV). In light of this Scripture, simply saying ‘I couldn’t help myself’ is an excuse that doesn’t hold up before God. The Bible says no temptation is greater than God’s faithfulness. If you choose the way of escape which He offers, you won’t fall into the trap. And if you do fail, it will be because you didn’t draw on God’s faithfulness. The temptation may not disappear immediately, but you will be given a way to bear it, to hold out against it. The temptation remains an active possibility, but God gives us the option of trusting in His reliable, delivering power. Bearing temptation implies an ongoing process. You can win the battle, but the war will never fully end until the last shot is fired at the coming of Jesus when every foe will become his footstool (see Acts 2:35). In the meantime, ‘be vigilant and cautious…for that enemy of yours…roams around like a lion…seeking someone to…devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith…knowing that the same…sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood…throughout the world’ (1 Peter 5:8-9 AMPC).

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

The patriarch Job said, ‘I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman’ (Job 31:1 NLT). Job couldn’t control his environment and its temptations any more than we can. Still, we can learn a valuable lesson from Job’s words. A covenant is a promise made in good faith with the intention of keeping it. It’s a step of faith you commit to before you know what circumstances you will encounter, not unlike a marriage covenant. The Bible tells us, ‘The just shall live by faith’ (Romans 1:17 KJV), not by our own efforts. Faith is based on God’s revealed will, and our part is agreeing with God’s will with the understanding that only by His power can we fulfil our vow. Our selfish nature militates against keeping God’s commandments; that’s why everything we need to succeed is ours because of the Holy Spirit who indwells us. If you wait until you feel strong enough to honour your covenant with God, it will never happen. But if you make it by faith, recognising your own weakness, the Holy Spirit will provide the strength you need to keep it! His covenant, made by faith, enabled Job to say, I will ‘not…look lustfully at a young woman’ (Job 31:1 NIV). But isn’t it better not to make a covenant than to make one and break it? No, because all our failures are covered by Christ’s blood. ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us…and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9 KJV). Repentance brings forgiveness and a fresh start!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

It seems like no matter where you look nowadays, there are temptations. Our young people are bombarded by imagery that confuses, seduces, and erodes standards of decency and self-control. A wise and devoted eighty-year-old pastor was asked at what age sexual temptation was no longer an issue. Without hesitation, he replied, ‘It must be sometime after eighty!’ The truth is, if you’re breathing – you’re vulnerable! And it doesn’t end there. Research shows that a growing number of women are becoming ensnared in the easily accessible world of seductive literature, movies, and videos. Willpower, internet filtering, and personal accountability partnering are all valuable and can help. But these alone won’t bring about deliverance or provide healing from the moral wounds inflicted by the Enemy. We all need to hear and heed some Bible directives offered for our protection. Jesus said, ‘You have heard…it…said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I tell you…anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart’ (Matthew 5:27-28 NIV). The first step is to recognise that lust is destructive and scripturally forbidden. Now, Jesus isn’t talking here about a momentary glance. He is talking about a longing look that inflames desire and leads to sin. It implies a process rather than a fleeting thought. The Greek word blepo used here for ‘looks at’ implies special contemplation or wilful, extended thought. Clearly then, a look that stirs up wrongful passion should be our cue to call on the Holy Spirit to help us resist sin and walk in purity.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

God instructed the observance of the Sabbath day with good reason: rest from our labours. Now if God felt He should rest after six days of creative activity, how much more should we? Jesus was a big advocate of taking time off. Once, He sent His disciples on an evangelistic journey. When they returned thrilled about all the wonderful miracles that had happened, you would imagine that He would urge them to maintain the momentum. He didn’t. ‘Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place’ (vv. 31-32 NLT). Note the words ‘people coming and going’. Does this sound like your normal day in which you rarely get a chance to take a breather? Jesus was concerned that His disciples would get out of balance. What did He know that we continue to miss? He never rushed around, never seemed to be harried or controlled by the crowds, kept His priorities in order, and always managed to complete what He set out to do. Jesus knew the importance that rest and relaxation played in His disciples’ continued effectiveness. But ‘time-outs’ won’t occur without firm determination and planning. You must view such times just as important as any other undertaking. Prayer: ‘Father, help me to make rest a priority in my life. Help me to stop dishonouring my body, this temple you have given me to perform my purpose here on earth.’

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

The Bible says: ‘Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, because they assumed he was among the other travellers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him’ (vv. 41-44 NLT). This story has a happy ending because Jesus’ parents found Him. But it doesn’t always turn out that way. Don’t ‘assume’ your children are okay. Today they have access to drugs, weapons, and pornography via the internet, where they can meet a paedophile as well. That should concern you. Jesus said Satan comes to ‘steal…kill, and…destroy’ (John 10:10 KJV). Don’t let him have your family. After being set free from demonic control, a man wanted to travel with Jesus as one of His disciples. But Jesus said, ‘Go back home to your family and tell them what the Lord has done for you’ (see Luke 8:39). Your dream job or house will feel empty if you lose your children. Indeed, your achievements may taste like ashes in your mouth. If you have been travelling the road to success and neglecting to bring your family along with you, make a U-turn! Go back and get the people who matter most. Commit yourself to making the journey only if it includes them. Pray with the psalmist, ‘I need your help, especially in my own home, where I long to act as I should’ (Psalm 101:2 TLB). Don’t assume your children are okay – be sure they are.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Everybody needs encouragement. None of us achieves anything without help. The great achievers in history became all that they were because of the people in their lives. We've seen The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings. But did you know that their authors, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, were professors at Oxford University and maintained a close friendship? Every week they'd meet to eat, talk about their fiction-writing endeavours and read passages of their yet unpublished works. It was Tolkien who encouraged Lewis, an avowed atheist, to explore Christianity, ultimately leading to his conversion. And it was Lewis who encouraged Tolkien to continue writing fiction and to seek publication. Were it not for their friendship and mutual encouragement, the world wouldn't have received the finest writing in apologetics of the twentieth century, nor one of the finest fantasy works ever written. Everyone, young and old, successful and less-than-successful, famous and unknown who receives encouragement is changed by it. Mark Twain said, 'One compliment can keep me going for a whole month.' A word of encouragement from a teacher can change a child's life; a word of encouragement from a spouse can strengthen or even save a marriage; a word of encouragement from a leader can inspire a person to reach his or her potential. Zig Ziglar says, 'You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life.' The Bible says, 'Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones' (Proverbs 16:24 NKJV).

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

If you want to change your life, you must change how you think and what you think about. When you think about the wrong things, your life goes wrong. But when you think about the right things, your life goes right. 1) Changing your thinking isn’t easy. It’s not automatic and doesn’t happen on its own. Good ideas seldom go out and bump into someone. If you want to discover a good idea, you have to look for it. If you want to improve your thinking, you need to work at it – and when you become a better thinker, good ideas will keep coming. Furthermore, the amount of good thinking you do at a specific time relies mainly on the amount of good thinking you’re engaging in already. 2) Changing your thinking calls for commitment. Albert Einstein said, ‘Thinking is hard work; that’s why so few do it.’ When someone says, ‘This thought is off the top of my head,’ anticipate dandruff. Only people who believe thinking is easy are the ones who don’t participate in it. The media, the culture, and those around you will influence your thinking unless you decide to think for yourself. 3) Changing your thinking brings great rewards. Paul writes, ‘We have the mind of Christ’ (1 Corinthians 2:16 KJV). When you tap into the thoughts of God and make them your own, your potential is unlimited. Gold mines run out. Stock markets suddenly decline. Real estate investments go bad. But a mind transformed by the Spirit and Word of God is like a diamond mine that lasts. It’s invaluable.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Good thinkers are constantly in demand. Why? Because they solve problems, always have ideas that can build an organisation, and are hopeful for a better future. And good thinkers seldom find themselves under the control of bad thinkers. Adolf Hitler once boasted, ‘What luck for rulers that men do not think.’ Those who build the technique of good thinking can manage themselves – even when under an unfair ruler or in other challenging circumstances. In summary, good thinkers are successful. Dr John Maxwell writes: ‘I’ve studied successful people for forty years, and though the diversity you find among them is astounding, I’ve found that they are all alike in one way: how they think! That is the one thing that separates successful people from unsuccessful ones. And here’s the good news. How successful people think can be learned. If you can change your thinking, you can change your life!’ The Bible puts it succinctly: ‘For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.’ That means you will never climb higher in life until you are ready to change your thinking. But if you change the way you think, you can change your life! It’s hard to exaggerate the value of changing your thinking. Good thinking can do several things for you, including generating opportunities, resolving problems, and producing revenue. It can lead you to an entirely new level, both professionally and personally. Paul writes, ‘Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise…Then the God of peace will be with you’ (Philippians 4:8-9 NLT). Do you want to change your life? The first step is to change how you think.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

When you wilfully do wrong, you experience anxiety, stress, and insecurity. ‘“There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked”’ (Isaiah 48:22 NKJV). Whenever you choose a plan of action incompatible with what you believe to be right, you forfeit your peace of mind. For instance, a person may accept a job or duty that forces them to do something against their spiritual convictions, something that violates their conscience. Numerous people have faced the predicament of compromising their values so they can get a promotion or attain other advantages. To them at the time, it looked like their only option. ‘There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death’ (Proverbs 16:25 KJV). This is when a strong spiritual foundation is essential. It takes faith and bravery to let your convictions direct your behaviour and your choices. The truth is that God is ultimately responsible for your advancement and promotion. His Word says, ‘Promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another’ (Psalm 75:6-7 KJV). Don’t think you can do right in your own power. Sometimes the temptation to manipulate or lie so that you can advance your career is just too much to withstand. That’s when you need to draw on God’s strength. David said, ‘The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?’ (Psalm 27:1 NKJV). Prayer: ‘Father, please keep me from falling into temptation, and deliver me from the Evil One. Help me to do what’s right.’

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.