I love this passage because for me it speaks of the various satgaes of maturity,
(1Jn 2:13) I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
(1Jn 2:14) I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
(1Jn 2:15) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
(1Jn 2:16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
(1Jn 2:17) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.
When your eyes and ears are open you see truth for the first time like children we can be bewildered by it. You remember your first love but now are at a loss of what to do.
As you study and read His Word and learn about his Will you also learn overcome. This is ongoing.
When you have done this over and over like Ray and others you are beginning to know the Father like Christ knew him, but the battle still goes on because we are still flesh but they are now moslty skirmishes..
Each of us has to overcome those things which are our idols, not everyone has the same idols but all idols are to be avoided.....hence the ending of 1John
1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
beloved