Tuesday... There is within us a desire to please.

And it can be a very good thing or not. And it is amazing what we will do to please, isn't it?

Now it is really discouraging when it seems that we can't please someone we want to please. Some have done all they can all their life to please a father and mother and they can't? And they feel like a failure.

Now Paul in his letter to the Romans deals with the matter of pleasing God. He says there is this sinful nature within each of us. We were born with it. And in Romans 8:7-8 (NLT) he says, "For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will. That's why those who are under the control of their sinful nature can never please God."

There are many who could say, "I can't please my parents and I can't please God. I am a failure." And it may be true that you may not be able to please your parents but it usually is not your fault. Oh it could be because we were a mess and never listened to them but it could also be something within them. They too could have felt that they couldn't please anybody themselves and they carried it over to you. And we can feel so condemned.

Verses 1-2 says, "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ. And because you belong to him. the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death."

John 3:16-18 (NIV) says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."

Now Romans 8:5-6 says, "Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace."

Verse 5b in the Amplified Bible says, "but those who are living according to the Spirit, [set their minds on] the things of the Spirit." Get your mind off of thinking about sinful things and thinking about things that please the Spirit. "letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace."

Yes God has placed within us a desire to please Him. And we can. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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Todays Beginning

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