Hey Westside Family & Friends,

Could this be it?  Could 2012 be the year?  Could you accomplish what you have been hoping for and finally see your prayers answered for your ongoing and personal sin issues? 

Is this finally going to be the year where (with God’s help of course) you will get over that:

• nagging,
• nasty,
• self-indulgent,
• self-gratifying,
• lack of self-control,
• procrastinating,
• prideful,
• arrogant,
• stingy,
• angry,
• bitter
• or unforgiving habit?

Observer 1:  Boy, did that sound too harsh?

Observer 2:  Yes . . . it did . . . mean in fact.

Observer 1:  I didn’t want it to sound mean.

Observer 2:  Well, you did sound mean . . . and judgmental too.  Those were a lot of accusations to dump on people.

Observer 1:  Well I didn’t mean for you to apply ALL those descriptions to yourself, just the ones that concern you personally.

Observer 2:  Oh . . .

Observer 1:  Anyway, I didn’t want to sound mean or judgmental.  I wanted to identify with those people who are sick and tired of struggling with the same issues year after year.

Observer 2:  Why didn’t you just say that . . . then?

Observer 1:  I am trying to!!  But sometimes the truth just hurts.

Observer 2:  OK . . . it’s your blog – you can say what you want to.  I don’t think people will read it though.

Observer 1:  Alright then . . . how about if we put it this way?

Will 2012 finally be the year that you get victory over your personal struggles?

Observer 2:  That’s better . . .

Observer 1:  I knew you’d see things my way.

Observer 2:  Shut up!

Observer 1:  You shut up!

Observer 3:  Both of you, shut up!

Observer 2:  Who’s he?

Observer 1:  I dunno . . . he just showed up.

Observer 2:  Oh . . .

(Sorry for the interruption people, back to my blog . . .)

If you are struggling with an issue and are praying that this will be the year of breakthrough,  I want to join with you and agree with you that this will be the year to take a big leap in your walk with God and see an awesome personal victory!  Will you take the time to jot down or print these simple truths and place them in your Bible?  I urge you to look at them and prayerfully take them to God, asking Him for His help each and every day until breakthrough is accomplished.

Truth Recommendations:

1.  Admit it for what it is . . . sin.

“Dear God: I realize that my struggle with  __________ is sin . . . it is wrong and I cannot put the blame on anyone else but me.”

2.  Repent and ask God to forgive you.

“I am sorry Lord.  I know that this is the reason Jesus died . . . for my sin.  Please forgive me.”

3.  Ask Him for His help.

“I have not been able to deal with this issue by myself,  I need your strength.  Lord, will You please help me overcome this terrible sin? 

4.  Give it over to God and be at peace about it

“God, I place myself and this struggle into your hands.  Holy Spirit, please remind me when I am walking in the wrong direction and pull me up short.  Do whatever it takes to keep me on the right path.  I trust You Lord.

Observer 2:  Whatever it takes!  Are you kidding me?

Observer 1:  Well, if people really are serious, they will ask God for His help . . . no matter what.

Observer 2:  Ouch . . . but I guess that’s true.

5.  Pray for each other.  

Stand shoulder to shoulder with two or three friends and hold each other up before the Lord.  Confess your sins to each other and break the back of the enemy who would try to keep it all in the dark.  Pray regularly and pray often, you’ll see mighty things accomplished!

Observer 2:  I’m not telling anyone my faults.

Observer 1:  Why not?

Observer 2:  Because they might not like me anymore.

Observer 1:  That’s silly.  Besides, they probably already know anyway.

Observer 2:  Really?

Observer 1:  Yep . . . if they’re really a friend, they’ll be happy to stand with you in prayer.

Observer 2:  Neat . . .

6.  Don’t quit fighting 

“Dear Lord, please give me the strength to see this through to victory.  Help me to run from this sin and entertain these thoughts no more!  I know it won’t be easy, but with You by my side, I am confident that I will overcome and that You will get the glory!”

“Watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you.  But you must subdue it and be its master.” 

Genesis 4:7

Observer 2:  That’s right devil, I’m not going to take this anymore!  You come near me again and I’ll grab you by the throat and . . .

Observer 1:  Hey!

Observer 2:  What!?!

Observer 1:  That’s not how you do it.

Observer 2:  Why not?

Observer 1:  Because the only authority we have against Satan is in Christ.  It’s not us mustering up our own strength and fighting the devil all by ourselves.  It is us placing our trust and confidence in Jesus and what He has already accomplished at the cross that matters.

Observer 2:  Oh . . . never mind then.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 

Galatians 6:9

But you. . . run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses. And I charge you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus . . . that you obey this command without wavering. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

I Timothy 6:11-14

Have a blessed 2012 friends, love you.

Steve 🙂

P.S. You can email me at steve@westsideinfo.com with your prayer request and I will be happy to commit to stand with you in prayer before the Lord.