Good morning
Yurii .... How wonderful that you seem to be fitting right in here. I am sensing such an EXCITEMENT in you to live the Christian life.
There are so many parts to this NEW LIFE in Christ.. and what you have described is the journey of HOLINESS we are called to... when we come to CHRIST.
For me... I have found that age ( getting older ) also acts as a natural factor of change. I mean... I don't even consider doing or saying the things I used to when I was young.
Guarding my tongue is something I have been learning over my lifetime. I want to encourage you to simply dwell in the presence of YOUR GOD. Focus on PRAISING HIM... WORSHIPPING HIM.... THANKING HIM.... LOVING HIM.
I have found when I do the above.... I become so filled with GRATITUDE and AWE of HIM that some of those things that you mentioned in your post simply FALL OFF of me.... I no longer desire to feed my flesh ( self ).
The things you speak of in post #71 are life long battles. We are in a war with satan and he desires to destroy us... he will throw whatever he thinks we will fall for at us. Because of this.. we need to be AWARE that these things in us... these thorns in our sides such as pride...boasting... and greed are traits that live in all of us. I call them warning signs... and for me.. the best way to fight these off is to first be HONEST when I seek GOD to have them removed. Doing a daily/nightly inventory ( going through my day honestly and talking to God about the things I said or did that were NOT pleasing to him ) is so important so that these bad habits do not have time to fester and grow. ( I hope this made sense to you ). I just woke up and have not yet had my first morning coffee. HA.
I love what you said..... TRUE STRENGTH lies in
consistently living with integrity and love, regardless of the circumstances.
THAT my dear brother is such a powerful statement... and GOD DELIGHTS in helping us.
Thank you for your beautiful words.... and WELCOME here. Tenderly..... In Awe