Ezra: Who do you tell the most about stuff you do wrong?
Who are you confiding in?
Karyn: It's not wise to share our weaknesses with someone who may not see them as weaknesses. (Like, if you are trying to not have sex before marriage but are being tempted in the relationship you're in, it wouldn't be wise to confide in someone who thinks premarital sex is okay- they may help you rationalize.)
We have to choose who we confide in wisely. They should be someone who has the desire to strengthen us and hold us to high standards, without slamming us when we mess up.
Verse: "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
-James 5:16
Ezra: How do they respond to it?
Does anyone confide in you?
Have you ever heard someone you respect tell of something shocking that they did a long time ago? Like in a testimony at a church meeting?
How about something shocking that they are still doing? Why is this harder to disclose?
Have you ever regretted confiding in someone?
Verse: "Then she said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when you won't confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven't told me the secret of your great strength." With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death.
So he told her everything. "No razor has ever been used on my head," he said, "because I have been a Nazirite set apart to God since birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man."
When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, "Come back once more; he has told me everything." So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands."-
-Judges 16:15-18
Ezra: The problem with Samson was that he took his trust away from the LORD enough to fall into weakness. It's necessary to entrust others with information that will help them to help you, but don't betray what's right in the eyes of God in the process.
Verse: "It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man."
-Psalm 118:8
Ezra: When you have to choose one, choose the LORD. When you have to set priorities, make God first.
-5/15/7
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