Romans 1:26

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature.

I usually focus on the area of my game giving me the most difficulty when I prepare for a competitive round. With this emphasis placement and time given, I am then usually disappointed in the areas in which I previously had confidence. For example, if I couldn’t get a driver in play leading up to the tournament, I hit drivers all week until I gain a certain amount of confidence. In the round that follows, the odds are that I hit the driver well, but couldn’t chip a ball to save my life or make a putt over three feet in length.

We all have greater confidences in different areas of our spiritual lives. For example, I am not much for the taste of alcohol and never been enticed by pornography. Thus, it doesn’t take much effort for me to deny these temptations. However, there are other worldly lusts which require much more effort for me. We have to be diligent in all areas of our spirituality. When we relax in one aspect, God can chasten our negligence in another area. Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7, wrote “and lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” Paul seemingly acknowledged that his “thorn” of Satan’s pressure was permitted to prevent further revelations from God which could have wrongly promoted himself or created a certain pride.

For example, if our focus in life is on money, we are suspect to lose a connection with our family because of the extra hours we have to work to gain it. One negligent aspect concerning greed subjects the whole family support to vulnerability. Every link of the fence guarding our spirituality must be formidable against intrusion. Any entrance gained by the enemy opens access to the entire house.

We can’t be a one trick spiritual “pony.” In 2 Corinthians 8:7, Paul has us to desire to be “all around” believers when he wrote “as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.” The blessed assurance through Christ should give us a confidence that we have the ability to thrive in every area of our life. He has no limits and his power has no bounds.