Don't just remove the icon: Dealing with addiction and habitual sin

            I had what can easily be classified as an addiction when it came to computer solitaire.  It started like most addictions do, I just gave it a try.  But it was so easy to do.  I mean a double click and the deck would be re-dealt.  I even had a shortcut to the game on my desktop.  The bliss!  Or maybe not.  I don't know, maybe I'm the only one.

            But then one day as I sat down at my desk I looked over at the computer and thought, "Let me check my e-mail."  But then I saw the shortcut to the game.  That little deck-of-cards icon, sitting there, wooing me.  And then I realized what I had to do.  So I clicked on the icon and I deleted it.  No more solitaire for me.  But you know what, I had done that before.  It didn't prevent me from making another shortcut and starting the cycle all over again.  No, more had to be done.  So before I could change my mind I clicked on "My Computer"  and went to the source file and...  yes... deleted it.  And it felt good.

            We all have little icons in our lives, little shortcuts on our desk tops, that we need to get rid of.  We know what they are.  We have tried to get rid of them before.  But we just removed the icon, we didn't delete the source file. Maybe we did it to get other people off our backs.  Maybe we hoped that it would be enough.  Whatever the reason, we didn't have the strength to do the job completely. 

            If you don't delete the source file, you will find yourself playing the game again.  When you feel the conviction that what you are doing is out of God's will then you have to act immediately.  "If your eye offends you, pluck it out."  What does this mean?  It means that the action must be quick, decisive and complete.  Don't fool yourself into thinking you are strong enough to beat this alone. Don't let the enemy convince you that it is okay, for whatever reason, that you continue.  Where you are weak, He is strong.  Let Him be your strength.  Let His Spirit give you the power to act decisively. 

            If I didn't delete the source file, I'm certain that sometime down the road, you would see me playing again.  He showed me my weakness, I accepted His strength.  And I grabbed hold of a little bit more of the freedom He has given me.  I pray that if there is and icon in your life, a program that needs to be deleted, that you will let Him be your strength.

SDG