May 27, 2022 Memory Verse
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April 14, 2022 Verse Of The Day
Matthew 26:41 How To Avoid Temptation
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41
Everyday millions of people are striving to lose weight. They put themselves on a strict diet to accomplish their goals. While they manage to follow the diet for a week or two, most often people give into temptation to eat things that they should not eat.
They are frustrated with themselves and feel as if they are a failure. Their mind was desiring to lose the weight, but their body was weak and gave in.
As Jesus was getting ready to go to the cross, He had the disciples pray with Him. He told them to keep watching and praying so that they will not fall into temptation, because the flesh is weak.
In the same way people are striving to lose weight, there are believers who are striving to stop sinning. Yet, everyday they fall to temptation to sin in some way or another.
Temptation is something that no one can completely avoid. It is always there working to trip up a believer and cause him to sin against God. Even though it is always there, one does not have to give in to the temptation.
The first thing a believer must do is be watching. He must keep his eyes open to things that will tempt him to sin. If he is not watching, he will not see it coming as temptation and will fall for it.
The other thing a believer must do is pray. This is talking and listening to God. Every believer must be in constant communication with God. Paul said to pray without ceasing. When a believer is talking and listening to God, he will not give in to temptations that come his way.
As with every believer, there are some temptations that you have to deal with. Satan is going to try and cause you to fall into sin against God. Refocus your attention upon God with being in constant prayer. Then allow the Holy Spirit to open your eyes so that you may watch and see when temptations come your way.
Every time that a temptation comes your way, God will make a way for you to escape it. You then have to make the choice as to whether to sin or not sin. The closer you are to God, the easier it will be to not fall into temptation.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will be in constant communication with God; that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to the attacks of the enemy; and that God will strengthen you to turn away from sin.
Mark 14:38 Prevent Falling To Temptation
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Mark 14:38
The standards of the world are that a person can do whatever he desires as long as it does not directly hurt another person. These standards can be found everywhere. Advertisements are focused on telling a person needs and deserves to have whatever he desires.
People cannot have or do too much, according to the world. This type of thinking causes people to do things that go against God and His standards.
As Jesus was about to be betrayed in the garden, He was praying and wanted the disciples to pray also. They had fallen asleep. Jesus told them that they needed to watch and pray to keep from falling into temptation.
Temptation is the pressure put on someone to go against a set of standards for a different set of standards. Most often this is going against God’s standards–sinning against God.
No true believer really wants to sin, but do continue to fall into the temptation to sin. The world wants nothing more than a believer to sin against God. The best way for a believer to prevent this from occurring is to watch and pray.
One must watch and be alert to the deception of the world to get him to sin. He must also pray. Prayer will keep his focus upon God and His standards, taking his eyes off of the lusts and temptations of this world.
God is willing to show a person the way out of temptation as the pressure arises. He will be able to bring to memory His word to turn from all sin.
Without prayer, a person is trying to do it on his own and will fall to the temptation to sin.
Every day there will be times of temptation that will come up in your life. You have to be ready to combat those temptations.
The first way to beat them is be watching for those temptations. Be ready for when the enemy tries to trip you up.
The next thing you need to be doing is praying, without stopping. Rely upon God’s Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide you to turn away from all temptation to sin. Refuse to sin against God.
Watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will pray to God continually; that you will rely upon God’s strength; that God will open your eyes to temptations before you; and that you will refuse to sin against God.
Habakkuk 1:5 God Will Surprise You
“Look at the nations and watch–and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5
Every so often one person will completely amaze those around him or those who know him. He will do something very different, completely out of normal character for him. Sometimes that action will be of good character, while other times it can be something terrible.
As things like this occurs, people are amazed and often cannot really believe what had happened, even when they see the action themselves.
Habakkuk had just asked God why He tolerates all the violence, why God is not answering his prayers. God’s answer was that He was about to do something so great that it would amaze him. The answer was that God was going to use the heathen enemy to answer their prayers.
To this day millions of people are asking God the same question about violence. They are also asking God many other questions about many other issues in life.
Often when people pray, asking God for some answer, they are expecting God to answer in a certain way. God, being God, is able to answer in thousands of different ways than one may expect. He always answers with the perfect answer in consideration of every one involved and in light of eternity.
The best thing a believer can do is to trust God to answer in His time and His way. God’s ways of thinking and acting are always above those of any person. It is common for God to use the enemy, even the worst of enemies, and his actions for His purpose, for the good of those who love and serve Him.
There will be times when you have questions or requests of God. When you do, you must trust God’s way to answer you. Know and understand that God is for you and not against you. God only wants what is best for you. He wants what will draw you closer to Him and make you more like Jesus in holiness and righteousness. God will do anything to make that happen.
As you sit back and watch God work in your life and in the lives of those around you, you will be amazed. God will do things in different ways, but with much better results. Allow God to do what He does best.
I pray today that you will trust God with your life; that you will seek God’s way of doing things; that God will open your eyes to what He is doing; and that you will trust God with how He answers your prayers.
Insights From Tom 