Went to a great service today, and it highlighted destroying sinful cycles. Kings in our lives that need to be removed, which are idols that we place above God. It falls in line with Chris' previous post about open doors. Before Joshua made it into the promised land, he had to defeat thirty-one kings before that. So, the question that the church was left with was this: what kings are in your life that are keeping you from the abundance and blessings that God wants to give you? From a personal standpoint, it is my phone. Hours on it each day, mindlessly scrolling through YouTube shorts. Along with reading a portion of verses in the Bible (daily), I plan to begin reading books to deepen my understanding about my walk in the Lord. If you’re ever curious, I’ll leave the names of each book. • “Think Again: Relief from the Burden of Introspection” by Jared Mellinger • “Friend of Sinners: Why Jesus cares more about relationship than perfection” by Rich Wilkerson Jr. • “Your Life, Your Game” by Keezano But, if you struggle with phone moderation, I’d suggest getting a physical copy of these books so you can intentionally put your phone down. Aside from that, I want to stress how important fellowship is. Beyond just this community, but in life as well. Surround yourself with brothers and sisters in Christ. People who understand your struggles, but also desire for you to be freed from guilt-inducing cycles that you experience. You might even find that some of them wish to be freed from the very same things you struggle with—just as you’ve seen in this community. In short, it’s very unlikely that what you are dealing with hasn’t been experienced before or even with others today. I’ve met many great people of the Lord just this week, and as someone who burned a lot of bridges, it’s transformed how I view and maintain relationships. You can find people who speak life into you and vice versa, but it will take some effort on your part (to find and maintain these relationships). But, above all else, pray to God to find these people. God will provide, but it is important to include Him every step of the way. That is the only way you will be able to overcome trials and tribulation. Be honest with Him and be sincere. Bring your fatigue, frustration, and desires to the Lord. Pour out every last ounce of feeling that you have, and if you feel empty and lost, share that as well.