shadow

temptation

Watch Out for Hidden Quills

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“For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”
Luke 8:17 NASB

While living in the small town of Medicine Bow, Wyoming, we were never far from wide open spaces. We had two dogs at the time, Hosanna, a chow-lab mix, and Shadow, a purebred registered Great Pyrenees. Though not a common occurrence, both dogs escaped from our fenced in yard and went missing one afternoon. Fortunately for us, after futile attempts to find them, they returned home a few days later. Their wanderings had left them hungry, filthy dirty, and suffering from a run-in with a porcupine – ouch! Both snouts were pricked with quills, and it was an arduous task removing them.

Several weeks passed and we noticed a bump forming on Hosanna’s nose. You guessed it. A piece of quill had obviously broken off and become imbedded and was working its way out. Eventually, the site festered, and with much effort and apparent discomfort to Hosanna, we were able to remove the culprit.

All too often, just like our pets, we are tempted to drift outside the boundaries God has put in place for our safety. For whatever reason, whether it be willful or ignorant disobedience, we stray from God’s truths. We come face to face with sin, and sometimes it wins. As a loving caretaker, God patiently removes the painful offences when we return and yield to Him.

However, just like porcupine quills, hidden sin can bury itself deep within our hearts. We can ignore it and pretend it isn’t there. Hidden from others, it can easily go undetected – for a while.  But eventually, the ugliness will surface and fester and spew itself from deep within. Don’t be fooled – nothing is ever hidden from God. And He will one day bring it to the light.

King David, a man after God’s own heart, yet familiar with playing with temptation, offers us great hope in Psalm 19:12-13. Look at his declaration to God for help, and let it be your prayer today and always:

“How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and      innocent of great sin.” (NLT)

[Digging deeper – Psalm 10:11, 69:5, 139:23-24; Isaiah 29:15; Daniel 2:22; 2 Corinthians 4:2]

Watching and praying,

Beverly <><

 

 

 

Photo Credit: Photo Pl000809 by Jane Schlossberg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jschlossberg) via freeforcommericialuse.org

Feeding the Spirit and Starving the Flesh Part 2

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“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41

The second part of this verse shows us our true nature without the saving power of Jesus inside of us. Our flesh is drawn to feels good now without thought of consequences of our actions. Doing what feels good to us in the moment to please the flesh will only make it harder to ignore it in the long run.

Have you every fed a stray cat? What happens once you feed the cat just one time? In my experience the cat keeps coming back and even seems to tell a few of his friends!

Our flesh is like that stray cat, keeping feeding it and instead of going away it will come back consistently and grow louder.

That is why it is so important to we are praying in the spirit to withstand these temptations.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Ephesians 6:18

Praying in the spirit is our strongest defense against all of the temptations of this world. Whenever we feel tempted we can know that all of the power we need to withstand this temptation is already inside of us.

Despite how we feel in the moment we are never forced to sin, we always have a choice.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Be comforted dear friends that just as Satan has crafted “traps” to trick us, God has given us His strength to overcome them!

In Him,

Stephanie

Photo Credit: image created via wordswag

Feeding the Spirit and Starving the Flesh Part 1

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“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41 NIV

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

When I come across this verse, I immediately relate it to this verse:

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

If a lion is roaming around looking for his next prey, it makes sense that we are told to “watch and pray” to avoid “falling into the trap”.

Falling into temptation is a matter of watching where you step, and not giving into temptation is a matter of keeping your guard up through prayer.

We all have certain weaknesses or vices that are easy for us to fall into. Every temptation we come against has been handcrafted to draw us away from God.

What is most tempting to you probably is different than what is most tempting to me because we all have different “lusts” of this world that entice us.

For everything in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–comes not from the Father but from the world. 1 John 2:16

All of these “lusts of the world” are not things that we happen across, they are what we are bombarded with everyday.

How do we fight against temptation?

Well in our own strength and ability, these temptations that surround us will always overcome us, but through the power of God inside of us we can withstand these temptations.

In Him,

Stephanie

 

 

Photo Credit: image created via wordswag