Puppet shows that I grew up with are different from the computer puppet shows that we see now. The old puppets would be attached to strings that made them move as the operators moved their strings. People often think living a Christian life is like a puppet on a string. That is not true, you have the final say on your actions. When Christ comes into our hearts and becomes our personal savior, we take on a new nature. We also receive the Holy Spirit into our lives which works to make us more like Christ each day. We are able to have self-control and make decisions to follow the spirit instead of the old fleshly nature. (2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old is gone, the new is here!) God gives us the ability and offers to help us to make right choices, but we are not puppets on a string. God will not manipulate us, we must choose spirit over flesh and we must choose right over wrong. The new creation in Christ, our new heart, must take control over our thought process and our actions. The new inner man will control the outer man. We do not have to live in regret. God gives us His Spirit to enable us to make right and wise choices. He urges us, guides and leads us, but we still have to cast the deciding vote. If you have been casting the wrong vote, all you need to do is change your vote. Forming new habits will require making a decision to not do what you feel like doing unless it agrees with God’s will. Pastor Don [image: image.png]