Thank you. I have not always done the first works of shutting down every thought for sin from the devil from mind, and so I was often plagued with them unnecessarily, including allow them to become lust in the heart to do them.
Now, I do my part to keep the peace of God that passes understanding, by shutting them down so soon as they cross my mind, and I am no more plagued by double heartedness in the faith.
Many sincere Christians try to fight sin with the flesh, after lust has already been allowed to lodge in the heart. It is a lost battle.
When we first begin fighting our warfare where is begins in the spirit, it does seem impossible to maintain, but soon we find the Spirit of Christ joining in, and we see ourselves winning against the devil's every thought for sin. We realize that is our promise and seal of the Spirit.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
In Christ, just as Jesus did in the flesh, we don't have to take the sinful thoughts of the devil for one second. We can cast them aside handily and continue on in the grace and goodness of walking with Jesus even as He walked with the Father in the days of His flesh.
You make some great points, sometimes I just let myself go ahead and do whatever it may be.
It's all personal cause God looks at the heart, and the communing is there.
If Paul says everything is lawful, but not everything helpful.
Some things do need to be cast down right away when it leads to malice, or evil intent.
Of course I dont believe any of us can hurt God, or even hurt Jesus, we hurt ourselves and the relationship bond because of our own actions - depending on what that may be, mainly evil and malice, or even lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, or even being prideful over others, like the one Pharisee who said thank you God im not like this piece of garbage sinner over here who doesn't tithe, and all the rest of the murderers, Heaven forbid.
Love to you, and carry on.
Matthew