It’s time for a little intervention. It’s obvious that your thinking needs to be realigned with the truth. It’s for your own good that I write to you this letter.

My sincere hope is that you will receive it in the spirit it was written, a spirit of concern that if things don’t change you are in for increasingly difficult trials.

In this culture of proud victimhood, not everyone wants to hear that they may share in the responsibility for their current situation. But I am going to say it anyway.

“It’s your own fault”.

Go ahead and get mad, prepare your case, hate me if you must, but the truth is that, since you are no longer a child, are not being held prisoner, and not under threat of harm for your choices, you must take some personal responsibility for your actions, choices, and/or lack thereof.

From this point forward, you are given notice that your life is in your hands.

Yes, there are forces and schemes that are working hard to manipulate, use and take advantage of you, mostly to get you to buy their product or vote for their social programs.

Scientists have helped marketers and politicians and evil men find new ways to tempt you, limit your understanding of reality, even attempt to control your thoughts, but, for now, we still have free will.

And we need to admit this truth in order to free ourselves from the trap of victimhood and the blinding forces of selfishness inside us.

Only when we admit that we have been willing participants in our self-destruction can we begin to walk on the path of self-control and self-determination.

But why, you ask, would I try to destroy myself?

You wouldn’t do it consciously. But your flesh would seek pleasure, a life of ease, novelty, sexual thrills, drama, what other people have, approval, and entertainment which are all temptations that have brought the world to where it is today. Your mind will resist self-discipline, hard work, good habits, and accountability.

Just say “No!”, to yourself when you know you should.

Only through submitting ourselves to the will of God, our creator and savior, can we begin to resist the temptations of the flesh that so easily lead us astray.

When we put God’s will above our own, the Holy Spirit will convict us of sin and protect us from tempting but destructive pursuits.

There have been temptations since the beginning. And there have been denials of responsibility and blame. Today we can blame big marketing, big Tech, politics, the schools, big Pharma, Russia, China, or Bill Gates, but ultimately we must realize that we cannot be treated like puppets unless we allow it.

If you didn’t know better before, you do now! Examine your motives and your secret thoughts and uncover the lies you’ve believed. You are not helpless. You have options. You can do the right thing even when it’s hard. Don’t be lazy.

You must take charge of your choices. Wake up! Become aware of the traps that are set for you. Look out for the pits hiding under the soft carpet and the poison in the candy bowl.

Grow up and agree with God that although you are influenced by the world and your family and your friends, only you are responsible for your life at the end of the day.

Own it!

Not only that, but the future generations, and your own children, will be looking to you for their example, and for your innovations, inventions, and wisdom. These things take forethought, planning, and patience, which is learned by becoming a responsible adult.

If everyone, or even just the professing Christians, would decide today to say no to buying things they can’t afford, no to taking drugs and alcohol to ‘feel better’, no to overeating, no to entitlement, no to unnecessary drama, no to indulging in ‘little sins’, no to self-righteous judgmental attitudes, no to selfishness, what a change the world would see!

Good luck. You got this! I believe in you. One day at a time. Baby steps!

With Love, Truth

1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.