yes your are….no i’m not…yes you are!

“No I’m not!”

“Uh, yes you are!”

“…..NOOOOO I’m not”

“….Yes you are!”

This goes on and on and on and on and on.  It’s not a conversation that we, as parents, have to officiate between our children, where one is saying, “Yes you are a booger eater,” and the one that is being accused of the action is saying, vehemently, “NOOO!”

Instead, this is a conversation we have with ourselves most of our days:

God says, “You are beautiful, you are enough, you are redeemed, you are mine” and we say (ok maybe not verbally but with our lives), “I don’t beLIeVE that, God.”

We speak over ourselves some of the most amazing lies ever. Such as: we are unworthy, inadequate, not enough, my sin is just too big, and the list goes on and on.  We live in a world where addictions, which I refer to as bicycles (more on this in a moment), continue to soar. And it’s not just the biggies such as alcohol, drugs (legal and illegal). The human race is reaching out to and through the internet at an all – time high for not just pornography but the multiple social media sites that consume our time, yet leave us unfed in the relationship piece of our lives. We are reaching in the pantries and going through drive-thrus at an all time high to medicate the ‘whatevers’ going on in our world.

I like this definition of addiction: Any behavior that is associated with craving and temporary relief, and with long-term negative consequences, that a person is not able and or willing to give up. Most conversations and reactions to the various behaviors are, “Man, you shouldn’t do that” or, “Don’t you know you’re hurting yourself?” or “Stop it, would you just stop it?!” and guys, the sources, the things, the stuff, the ‘bicycles’ that people are turing to are the ones we just mentioned. Ok, so what’s the ‘bicycle,’ bivo? The ‘bicycle’ is the behavior that is associated with craving and temporary relief. Its the source used to receive temporary comfort or relief.

Don’t we want to know why? I’m telling ya, I don’t believe anyone (when they were growing up) said to themselves and to their peer group, “You know what? One day I can’t wait until I can consume some much alcohol, drugs, food, go shopping, wear out the internet to the point that i lose my career and my family.” Trust me I understand the influence of how we are raised, yet we see through our Creator that He has written HIS code on our being. This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day,  says the LORD: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”  Hebrews 10:16 (NLT) and and hold on there is more…..Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds. And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.” Hebrews 10:17-18 (NLT)

At some point we throw off any and everything that entangles and live out 2 Corinthians 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. The Jesus in us (Holy Spirit) is the bicycle of choice. The reason i believe we don’t is that we forget that we are who God says we are…remember? “YES you are, no i’m not….yes you are…”

Who does God say you are? do you beLIeVE HIM