Daily Devotional For Monday, May 26, 2025
Good day Southside! Have you noticed that manufacturers and advertisers like to come out with what they call “a new and improved” product.” The point is – whatever of this product you currently have, it’s null, void, a thing of the past because a newer version or model is out. We see this every year with Apple and their Apple events where they release their new iPhone or iPad or Apple computers. They are better, faster, more efficient and have the latest and best technology. While all of that may be true, each of these newer models come with a pretty hefty price tag as well. Unless you are extremely wealthy, upgrading every year is a waste of money even if your current model has some dings, dents or minor functional issues.
Sometimes when we look at our own lives, we let our past mistakes, past dings, past dents, and past failures define us. The Bible says this in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (NLT). Meaning, when Christ gives His life to you, you get a brand new and improved model of yourself. One of the ways I see people allow their failures, sins, mistakes, hang-ups and bad habits define them is with this one statement: “This is just the way I am!”
They say this with such an emphatic attitude that you are not allowed to question it. But such a statement is conforming to our culture. We are allowing our culture to express my individuality and freedom in Christ. This is really pathetic and sad. You may have heard someone, even a Christian, say something like these statements below:
- “I have control issues. That is just the way I am.”
- “I am an ACOA – an adult child of an alcoholic – and so I have some dysfunction issues and that is just the way I am.”
- “I will never trust people because of how so many people in my past have violated my trust.”
- “Because of everything I have gone through in my past, that is why I am insecure and suspicious of people.”
- “I am so sorry I got so defensive but that is just the way I am due to being picked on growing up.”
One of the best ways to combat these lies from the devil is through our mind. The Bible says this in Proverbs 4:23, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (GNT). We shape our thoughts and then our thoughts shape us. This is why we all must heed 2 Corinthians 10:4-5:
“We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. (5) We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christt” (NLT).
The Apostle Paul is using military terms in 1 Corinthians 10:4-5 to remind the reader and the believer we are engaged in spiritual warfare. I think one of the reasons many Christians live defeated lives is because they either do not believe in spiritual warfare or they are not prepared for it. Paul gives us three great truths here:
- We have divine power to destroy strongholds such as our thoughts. “Strongholds” were bulwarks that were not easily penetrable and impregnable. Paul says we have all the divine power we need to do this, which includes our thoughts that we allow to define us.
- We can destroy every lofty thought, demonic thought that raises itself up against the knowledge and thoughts of God. Our past does not have to define us. Our failure and our sins do not have to define us. These citadels of sin and sinful thoughts can be brought down.
- In Paul’s day, when a fortress or stronghold or citadel was conquered, those defending it were taken captive. This means the word “thought” refers more specifically to the mind as the intellectual center of our being” (Source: Victor Paul Furnish, The Anchor Bible, Vol. 32a, “2 Corinthians,” p. 485). The idea is that Christ does not simply help people to think holy thoughts, but that “their mental structures, the plans and schemes, are taken over and transformed as they come to a new allegiance” (Source: Kent Hughes, The Life Application Study Bible Commentary, “2 Corinthians: Power In Weakness,” p. 184).
Assignment: Can you think of an area where you are experiencing a sin struggle? Instead of feeling defeated, or defensive, write down some goals and focus on your progress, not perfection. Where in your life do you excuse your attitudes and actions with, “Well, that is just the way I am?” Sit down with the Lord and ask Him to help you identify these strongholds and allow Him to tear them down and take captive your thoughts for His glory.
Scripture To Meditate On: 1 Corinthians 1:19, “As the Scriptures say, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent’” (NLT).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, please forgive me when I excuse my attitudes and actions with, ‘Well, that is just the way I am because . . . ‘ Lord, I want to be that new and improved creation by You. I don’t want to be held captive by the stronghold of my thoughts. Lord, as David pray, I pray, ‘Lord, create in me a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly