While in college I memorized a poem by Walter D. Wintle that said:

If you think you are beaten, you are.

If you think you dare not, you don't.

If you'd like to win but you think you can't,

It's almost certain you won't.

Life's battles don't always go

To the stronger or faster man;

But sooner or later the man who wins,

Is the one who thinks he can.

While this poem may just sound like a dose of “Positive Mental Attitude,” we know Proverbs 23:7 reminds us that “as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”  I find that those who live a victorious Christian life have certain patterns of thought that make the difference.

The Inward Thoughts of an Overcomer: A Discipline Toward Praise

In a recent e-devotion, I taught on the idea of biblical self-talk (see http://strategicrenewal.com/_blog/Weekly_E-Devotional/post/Start_Talking_to_Yourself/).  With this concept in mind, I am reminded that an overcomer disciplines his internal conversation toward praise.  Discipline involves regulating your thinking and conduct by principle – not emotion, impulse, or circumstances.

We’ve observed the mental discipline David employed when he wrote, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance” (Psalm 42:5, 11 & 43:5).  Again in Psalm 103:1 & 2 he disciplined his thinking with these words: “Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits."

An overcoming life embraces the discipline of Philippians 4:8: “ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things."

The Upward Thoughts of an Overcomer: A Delight in Love

An overcomer also looks upward to the risen Christ and experiences a delight in His unfailing love.  He constantly rejoices in the source of an overcoming life – the victorious love of the Lord Jesus.

In Romans 8:35-39, Paul expressed this in such a powerful way:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Consistent victory in the Christian life is an expression of the security that comes in knowing that we are loved.  When children know they are loved, they live with a confident freedom to do what is right, focus on others, and follow their dreams.  The principle applies to spouses, friends, and employees.

1 John 4:18-19 assures us, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.  We love Him because He first loved us."

I always cherish those powerful moments in Prayer Summits when the Spirit leads us to the biblical theme of God’s love for us.  Often we take time to praise Christ for His love in words like, “I praise You, Lord Jesus, that you love me even when…” or “I praise You that You love me even if…” It is so empowering to know that we cannot do anything to cause Him to love us less or coerce Him to love us more.  He has set His love upon us because it is His character to do so.  That is security.  That is the delight of an overcoming heart.

The Outward Thoughts of an Overcomer: A Dedication to Faithful Impact

A victorious follower also looks outward at a needy world and rests in the truth of the indwelling, overcoming Christ.  His dedication to faithful impact is rooted in knowing that Christ is faithful to live in and through his abiding heart.

First Corinthians 15:57 & 58 inspires us, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  Second Corinthians 2:14 offers similar encouragement: “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place."

As an overcomer we must live in the firm faith that He will live through us to express His life and light in a broken and dark world.  “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5)

Living in Unashamed Victory

So, as we look inward we discipline our thoughts toward praise.  As we look upward we delight in His overcoming love.  As we look outward we are dedicated to faithful impact, knowing Christ will live through us.

As a result we can walk in fellowship with Christ and one another, manifesting His victory and declaring an authentic message.  Enjoy this great reminder as we resolve to live a victorious and unashamed faith:

"The Fellowship of the Unashamed"

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear.

I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes.

And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear, for "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). – (by Dr. Bob Moorehead)

Copyright © 2009 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

Recently, I had the joy of preaching a message from Daniel 9:1-19, where we find a powerful, passionate prayer offered by Daniel on behalf of the people of Israel.  The 70 years of captivity were about to end and the Jews would have the opportunity to return to Jerusalem.  Daniel worshiped, confessed the sins of his people, and anguished over their spiritual condition.  He was more concerned with what would happen in their hearts than he was about the superficial issues of simply changing locations with their newfound freedom to return home.

Clearly, Daniel’s prayer is a model for all of us.  It is an example of the great need for spiritual anguish in our prayers.  As we look around our nation, and particularly at the spiritual condition of the body of Christ, there is much to be grateful for – but there is also much that should stir a sense of spiritual anguish, marked by fervent confession, pleas for God’s mercy, and longings for a restoration of His power and presence.

The Secrets of a Heart of Anguishing Prayer

Let us look briefly at this prayer of anguish and then allow our own hearts to sense the need for a similar pursuit in our prayers.

1.      Anguishing prayer is birthed from the truth of God’s word

We find that his reading of God’s word ignited Daniel’s prayer.  Daniel 9:2-3 tells us that he had been reading the prophet Jeremiah (probably the portions we identify as Jeremiah 25:11-12 & 29:10). As a result, he was aware that the 70 years was almost over.  His response was, “I set my face toward the Lord God…"

Even into his 80’s at this time, Daniel’s reading and deep understanding of God’s word led to deep and passionate prayer.  In fact, further study reveals that much of his prayer comes right out of the Scriptures.  There are allusions to Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Exodus, Psalms and, of course,  Jeremiah.  Throughout the prayer, Daniel referenced God’s “commandments” (verse 4), His “commandments and ordinances” (verse 5), the “prophets” (verse 6), God’s “teachings” (verse 10), God’s “Law” (verse 11), the “Law of Moses” (verses 11, 13), and God’s “truth” (verse 13).

John Piper tells how George Mueller said that for years he tried to pray without starting in the Bible in the morning.  Inevitably, his mind wandered.  Then he started with the Bible, and turned the Book into prayer as he read, and for 40 years he was able to stay focused and powerful in prayer.  Piper then notes, “I have seen that those whose prayers are most saturated with Scripture are generally most fervent and most effective in prayer.  And where the mind isn't brimming with the Bible, the heart is not generally brimming with prayer."

2.      Anguishing prayer is concerned with the honor of God’s name

Daniel’s petition is God-centered.  At least 19 times, he makes reference to God, while man is referenced approximately 11 times (mostly in the context of confession of sin).  In his prayer, Daniel speaks of God as the “great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy…“(9:4).  He tells of how God’s mighty hand exhibited His great name (9:15).  In verses 17-19  Daniel prays, “…for the Lord's sake cause Your face to shine…the city which is called by Your name…because of Your great mercies…for Your own sake, my God…for Your city and Your people are called by Your name." Notice the God-oriented nature of the prayer – and Daniel’s passion for the glory of God’s name.  It was this desire that led to deep confession (vv. 4-15) and a prayer of great faith (16-19).

Too many times our anguish is simply over our own inconveniences and trials.  Thankfully, the Lord hears and cares.  However, our ultimate concern should be that of Daniel’s.  The fame and honor of God’s name is the deepest desire of a true Christ-follower.

3.      Anguishing prayer is sustained by a longing for God’s presence

I love Daniel’s resolve in the phrase, “…then I set my face toward the Lord God…“(v. 3).  As the English Standard Version says, “…seeking Him in prayer.”  This was a face-to-face pursuit, where Daniel resolves with sackcloth, ashes, and fasting to pursue the ultimate reality of a revival of God’s presence among His people.  That is why he prayed, “For the Lord's sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate” (v. 17).  In verse 20, he noted that his prayer was ultimately “for the holy mountain of my God.”  This is a key to real anguish.  It is not satisfied with superficial progress of the religious program but desires nothing less than a full manifestation of God’s presence.

In Exodus 33:15-18 Moses exemplifies this same passion.  Even though God’s angel was going to lead them into the Promised Land, God said His intimate presence would not go with them.  Moses resolved, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.  For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth."  Then he cried out, "Please, show me Your glory."

This is the same vision for our lives that Paul articulated when he wrote, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).  Real anguish is dissatisfied with anything less.

4.      Anguishing prayer is answered in accordance with God’s plan

Daniel 9:20-23 tells us of God’s answer to Daniel’s prayer of anguish.  The angel Gabriel was sent speedily from God’s presence to give Daniel “skill to understand” God’s plan (v.22) and to assure Daniel that he was loved by God (v. 23).  What ensues is the revelation of the “70 weeks” that would take place in the future as God restored Israel through the coming of the Messiah.  Ultimately, we must also know that His Spirit will minister to us out of our anguish to teach us that His plan and timing are always best and to assure us of His never-failing love.

Will We Anguish?

It is strange how we can have a passion for our nation in other categories, but often fail to agonize over the spiritual condition of our land.  We get excited about national sports, national news, national politics, and the national economy.  Yet our great need is a sense of anguish over our spiritual condition as a nation.  The greatest need in our nation is not better sports leagues, more political ideas, or even economic recovery.  The great need is spiritual revival.  So, how are we really anguishing about this?

I will never forget when this sense of anguish became so strong on my own heart that I felt compelled to leave the security of the pastorate in a very large local church and become a missionary by faith for the sake of spiritual renewal in our nation.  The elders at Grace Church graciously said, “You could stay here and our church could grow to 10,000 or more – or, you can go and ignite renewal in 10,000 pastors and congregations.  Which would have greater impact?”  Their support reflected a God-given sense of God’s anguish over our nation.  This anguish is something we all must feel at some level.  Then we must act by praying, serving, going, and giving.

Recently, I had the privilege of leading a prayer time at the national headquarters for Life Action Ministries in Buchannan, Michigan.  During one of our prayer sessions, we watched a video by David Wilkerson.  (As a side note, you can view it for yourself at http://tiny.cc/zIm1L.  I would URGE you to watch it and share it with others.)  Read an excerpt from that video, and let it touch your heart:

“Whatever happened to anguish in the house of God?  Whatever happened to anguish in the ministry?  It’s a word you don’t hear in this pampered age.  Anguish means, ‘extreme pain and distress – the emotions so stirred that it becomes painful.  Acute, deeply felt inner pain because of conditions about you, in you, or around you.’  Anguish – the sorrow and agony of God’s heart.  We’ve held on to our religious rhetoric and our revival talk.  But we’ve become so passive.  All true passion is birthed out of anguish.  All true passion for Christ comes out of a baptism of anguish. You search the Scripture and you find that when God determined to recover a ruined situation, He would share His own anguish for what God saw happening to His people.  He would find a praying man and he would take that man and literally baptize him in anguish."

Praying for Anguishing Prayer

Even though I am now giving my life for the cause of spiritual awakening, I feel a longing for an increasing anguish over this calling and the spiritual needs of the American church.  My prayer is that you will share God’s heart at a deeper level for this same reality.

Let us pray for an anguish that is birthed from the truth of God’s word, concerned with the honor of God’s name, sustained by longing for God’s presence, and answered in accordance with God’s plan.  This is God’s invitation to live lives that really matter.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF FIRST TWITTER

First Twitter, written in 2009 by Pastor Daniel Henderson, is not inspired Scripture, although the author borrows heavily from the Bible.  Penned from seat 4B at 25,000 feet during a recent Delta Airlines flight, the epistle is short and eclectic, reflecting many familiar biblical themes.  The purpose of the book is to evoke fresh, heartfelt evaluation of the growing social networking tool known as Twitter.

The author acknowledges that Twitter is a very positive and powerful means for sharing updates and prayer requests.  He claims no particular expertise on the subject but expresses a concern for pure motives and Christ-honoring messages among the current barrage of “tweets.”  Since its creation, the epistle has not seen widespread circulation. The author simply wrote it with the intent of creating a tool to evaluate his own heart and helping others do the same.

SPECIAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE EPISTLE

As you read this short epistle it is important that the application remain personal and not serve as a means by which to judge the tweets of others.  As one verse in the epistle says, “Therefore judge no tweets before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God."

INTERPRETIVE GUIDELINES

Theologians and critics (including only Henderson so far) who have evaluated this somewhat controversial epistle offer the following questions as a guideline for interpreting and applying the message of the Epistle of First Twitter:

·        What messages are my tweets conveying?

·        Why do I want to convey them?

·        What impact will they have?

·        What praise or reward am I seeking?

Finally, for those unfamiliar with the terms used in this epistle, we offer the following:

·        Twitter = A social networking tool to keep family, friends, and coworkers up-to-date on what an individual is doing by using an instant messenger service, the Web, as well as mobile texting, plus other venues.  Messages are limited to 140 characters, which is just enough for a quick update.

·        Tweet = a short message sent on Twitter.

·        RT = a “re-tweet,” when someone reposts a tweet sent by another person, passing it on to their followers as well.

·        Twitpic = a photograph of a person or event that is attached to a tweet and sent to followers.

THE BOOK OF FIRST TWITTER

Tweetverbs for Today

Do not send boastful tweets about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.  Let another man praise you, and not your own tweets; a stranger, and not your own mobile device.  (Adapted from Proverbs 27:1-2)

Every tweet of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts. (Adapted from Proverbs 21:2)

Twitter on the Mount

Take heed that you do not tweet your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.  Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not tweet to all of your followers as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men.  Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to tweet their prayers to all of their followers that they may be seen by men.  Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  But you, when you pray, send a private text message to your friend as you pray to your Father who is in the secret  place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.  (Adapted from Matthew 6:1-6)

The Pastor and the Backslider

Two men picked up their mobile devices to tweet, one a pastor and the other a backslidden Baptist.  The pastor composed a message and wrote thus with himself: “Praise God that I am not like other men — boring, inarticulate, and not well-traveled or even as this backslider.  I post twitpics twice a day; I give blessings to all those who follow me.”  And the backslider, hardly able to type, would not so much as post a pic, but trembled as he held his Blackberry, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a boring person.”  I tell you, this man went down to his office justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Adapted from Luke 18:10-14)

Rewards

But he is a Christian who is one inwardly; with messages that remain of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the Twitter world; whose praise is not from men but from God. (Adapted from Romans 2:29)

For we are God's fellow social networkers; you are God's followers (and ours), you are God's network.  According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise social networker I have birthed the idea, and another comments on it.  But let each one take heed how he comments.  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if anyone responds to my tweets, it may be gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw – each one's tweets will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's content, of what sort it is.  If anyone's tweets endure, he will receive a reward.  If anyone's tweets are burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (Adapted from 1 Corinthians 3:9-15)

Do Not Judge

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any social network.  In fact, I do not even judge myself.  For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.  Therefore judge no tweets before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.  (Adapted from 1 Corinthians 4:3-5)

Comparing and Commending

Do we begin again to commend ourselves on Twitter? Or do we need, as some others, RT’s of commendation to you or RT’s of commendation from you?  You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered to by us, created not by tweets but by the Spirit of the living God, not on screens of mobile devices but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. (Adapted from 2 Corinthians 3:1-3)

For we dare not count our Twitter followers or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves.  But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. But "he who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” For not he who commends himself is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.  (Adapted from 2 Corinthians 10:12 & 18)

Copyright © 2009 Daniel Henderson.  All rights reserved.

In part one of “Christians Gone Crazy” (last week’s devotion, found below) we considered the apparent frequency with which Christian people are caught doing crazy things that are anything but Christian.  Perhaps the rapid release of juicy stories via cable television, the Internet, and Twitter just give greater visibility to this behavior.  In any case, we evaluated the reasons for this behavior, seeking to do so with grace and honesty.

In this devotion, we want to consider the impact of these major missteps by fellow Christians as well as our response to these sad situations of moral malfunction.

What is the Impact of This Crazy Behavior?

It is good to prepare our minds with a survey of the consequences of ill-advised behaviors.  Just as Proverbs describes the tragic outcome of bad moral choices, so should we regularly consider the negative impact of our displays of disobedience.  This certainly encourages us to avoid the path of scandalous sin but also encourages praying for those who taste the bitter fruit of their spiritual failures.

Shame to Christ – The great tragedy of theses crazy escapades is the discredit they bring to the Savior’s holy name.  Christ’s reputation is tarnished and disgrace has marred the work He died to establish.  Some will use the bad behavior of believers to discount the claims of Christ.  As Nietzsche stated, “I would believe in your redeemer if you lived as if you were redeemed."

Delight for Satan – The enemy always rejoices when he can trip up or throw down a Christ-follower, knowing he has ultimately broken the heart of Jesus.  No one sets out to make Satan smile, but this is the true effect.

Shattered Relationships – Sin is described as the violation of a relationship – first with God, then with countless others who expressed confidence in the straying individual.  To wander into the weeds of wanton behavior always involves the choice to hurt and violate the trust of people who love us.

Painful Earthly Consequences – Of course, depending on the area of sin, there are various consequences.  Adultery can destroy a marriage and family.  White-collar crime lands a man in jail.  Drunk driving can result in fatal accidents.  Genuine sorrow may evoke forgiveness from the family of the victim but it will not bring a life back.

Lost Eternal Reward– Ultimately, any earthly consequences are but a vapor compared to the loss of eternal joy and reward in the everlasting presence of the Lamb.  Rewards in eternity are granted to the faithful who serve with pure motives and persevering faithfulness.

What Should We Do About This Craziness?

Humble our Hearts– If you have stumbled in some fashion that has brought open shame to the Lord, your family, His work, and your own reputation – genuine humility is the first step to recovery.  Humility is the precursor to real repentance and change.

James 4:7-10 provides clear guidance for the wandered trying to find his way back home via that path of humility in the presence of the Almighty:

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."

Humility is also in order toward our fellow man with whom we have been entangled or toward whom we have created the offences.  The straying soul would do well to adopt the attitude promoted in Proverbs: “Go and humble yourself; plead with your friend. Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids. Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, and like a bird from the hand of the fowler” (Proverbs 6:3-5).

Learn our Lessons – The immediate season after a spiritual failure is one of the great moments for learning the lessons that result in genuine life change.  Ask God to help you apply the salve of divine wisdom to the self-inflicted wounds of sin.  Embrace the sorrow that leads to real, lasting repentance, not just the regret of being caught.  Failure is a powerful teacher if we are willing to learn, recalibrate our senses, and resolve to avoid any return to the mire.

Watch our Steps – If you have been preserved by God’s grace and your own common sense from scandalous sin, by all means, guard your thoughts, decisions, and deeds by resolute determination to honor Christ and His Word – every day.

Surround our Actions – Spiritual survivors do not go it alone. They have learned the value of accountability in every area of life.  They embrace the wisdom of avoiding any appearance of evil and surrounding themselves with checks and balances in the areas of money, morality, and ministry activity.

Trust, but Verify – Realize that saints who just might do something stupidly scandalous surround you – and you could become part of the fallout.  Yes, trust your fellow believers – but verify their behaviors through accountability, direct questions, and systems that will not tempt them to blow it in a weak moment.  It is better to be criticized for careful scrutiny than to be stuck untangling the spaghetti of shameful stumbles and permanently damaged relationships.

Thank God for the Faithful

In spite of the reality of this craziness – the fact remains that every day millions of Christians remain faithful to Christ and His claims on their lives.  For every crash-and-burn story there are multiplied thousands of godly saints whose stories of love, grace, and positive spiritual impact will never make the news.

We want to be among these faithful saints.  The secret is that we abide in Christ, drawing our life from His sufficiency in and through us.  He will bear the fruit of godly living through us, in spite of the trends and temptations of the day (John 15:5-10).  Praise God that we do not have to succumb to crazy decisions and shameful behavior.  We can live a life of abiding love for Him and selfless love toward others, which is always a choice for purity and perseverance.  We can stand in the promise that He “always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

In closing, I think of how Paul wrote to Timothy about the crazy and perilous days that would come as time unfolds.  The culture would be marked by people described as “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).  In spite of all this senselessness, Paul reminded Timothy of the sufficiency of the Word of God in his life and offered him the final exhortation he would ever pen to his young understudy: “But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at bringing others to Christ. Complete the ministry God has given you” (2 Timothy 4:5).

He knew Timothy could live a sane and sanctified life by the power of Christ, regardless of the times.  So can you.