"They Knew God"

Today (12/22) was a struggle for me just being transparent here. I struggled staying focused and keeping my thoughts pure and on the things that Paul instructs believers to think on in Philippians 4:8. I know that when this happens it usually is a combination of a things. Either I haven't been in the word & prayer as I should or the enemy is trying to trip me up or it's a combination of both. Today to be honest I was running late and yup I didn't spend the time I normally do praying and studying so there you have it. So today I had to get alone and really press in to overcome these mental attacks and I was led to the book of Romans to combat these thoughts and God in all His faithfulness met me right there.

As I read, "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:21-22), I was hung up on the words, "although they knew God". This states that although they "knew God" they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him. I have always said that I "know God" but Lord help me not to be too lackadaisical about this. These people that Paul writes about also "knew God" yet the "sinful desires of their hearts" were stronger than that knowledge they had which was eventually their downfall.

Later on in verse 24 we see that God gave them over to their sinful desires. This tells me, to be careful what we allow to pull us away from God; especially our own hidden desires. You know, those things that only you and God know about that aren't really that bad, at least by our own definitions. This is a fight brothers & sisters and we have to war against these sinful desires and the more we do the more God will intervene and fight on our behalf. On the other hand, I believe, the more we give into these sinful desires and not stand on the word and fight we run the risk of being given over to these sinful desires and if you read on in this chapter of Romans you see what the outcome is (v32).

Lord, we need you! we can't stand in this fight without Your strength and help. Please help us to see the way out (1 Cor 10:13) when these temptations of our sinful desires try to come in and pull us back down. We know that with You we can do all things and that we are more than a conqueror through Christ. Thank You Father for your mercy, grace, and love.

In Jesus Name I pray,

Amen,