Really~~~~ It's Not a Big Thing

Psalm 119:3

They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in His paths.

Such an innocent little word.........compromise.It sounds so .........diplomatic.....
It rolls off the tongue with a promise to be our friend and help us.
Compromise!
I give up something and, in return, I receive something.

The dictionary defines "Compromise" as a settlement reached by each side giving up something in order to reach a peaceful solution.

Compromise is also a deadly game we play with ourselves.

It takes place within our hearts and is voiced in our minds.
We don't really stop to think about what truly is going on.......it all seems so innocent.

The two parties usually involved is our conscience and our old nature (sin nature/ flesh).

We hold a great debate about something that we usually know up front we have no need in participating in.

The debate rages back and forth.
Pros and cons...

Right and wrong....

When in fact we should be fleeing from such things. Just the fact we are having this debate/conversation within ourselves should set off red alerts that we are headed into territory that will not be good for us.To put it bluntly, we are trying to rationalize to ourselves a wrong behavior that we want to participate in.
Such is the deceit found in compromise when it comes to our recovery and our relationship with Christ.

Compromise is death to someone in addiction.

Compromise will kill a recovery in a heart beat.

Cravings hit hard and heavy....
They seem insurmountable....

Instead of picking up a phone and calling someone, the addict reasons that they don't want to bother anyone.

That is a compromise.
They believe that they can hold on, knowing all the while that they are slipping closer and closer to a relapse.
That is a compromise.

They know the 12 Steps...
They have read the Big Book...
They attend meetings....

But they have compromised their recovery by giving in an doing nothing.

No prayer...
No crying out to Jesus for help.

Compromise has stopped them dead in their tracks.

Psalm 119:133 reads

Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by any evil.

Daily I have to watch myself.
I have to scrutinize every decision that I make. I hold them up and look at them through the light of my recovery. Why? Because I am not willing to compromise what God has given to me.

Each day, as we start class at Rapha, I tell the men, "It is now 9:00 a.m. You have been up for two and a half hours and you are still sober and clean. You got up this morning ahead of the curve with the incredible gift of sobriety. All you have to do now is maintain what has been given to you. Maintain it until 11:00 tonight when you go to bed. Don't compromise this incredible gift that you thought you'd never receive."

Don't give place to compromise in your life when it comes to sin.
Don't give the devil a foothold (Ephesians 4:27).

Ask God for strength and grace today to stand your ground and not surrender.

I think the Bible refers to this as Overcoming.

Then be that over comer today!

Ephesians 6:10-11
A final word: Be strong with the LORD's mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all the strategies and tricks of the Devil.
What is one of the Devil's ploy's or tricks?
Compromise....
Don't give in today, but stand firm.
Stand firm in the Lord's Strength and Power.

God on you.....

mb