“Our Daily Bread”

http://odb.org/2012/10/08/helping-with-hurdles/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie

http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht

1 Corinthians 10:13… No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.  (NKJV)

Temptations come from the evil desires of our sinful flesh or from Satan… But a person has to be a Christian before God will provide an escape for His children…James 1:13-14…  Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  (NKJV)

But Christians will only find God’s way out of a temptation, or give the Christian the means to bear a temptation…if the Christian doesn’t over-ride the Holy Spirit’s direction… The strength to overcome Satan and His temptations comes from the Holy Spirit; and not from our own mortal strength…  I’m not talking about the strength to say no to a fat laden dessert… I am talking about the evil temptation that will lead to sinning…

The Apostle James goes on to reveal what the progression of failing to ignore our own flesh’s desires or Satan’s temptations will lead to, in this next verse…James 1:15… Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.  (NKJV)

The Spirit filled Christian (allowing the Holy Spirit to control all of their actions), should immediately have a warning light or internal alarm go of inside of them, as the Holy Spirit urges them to steer clear of the impending desire or temptation that will lead to sinning…  But if the Holy Spirit’s alarm system has been turned off by the Christian, there will be no supernatural help or strength to turn away from sinning…

Walking with the Lord as a Spirit filled Christian, is all about total submission to God…  The Apostle James goes on to write this, in…James 4:7… Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  (NKJV)   Such a short, but truthful piece of scripture…  If Christians keep Christ at the center of their lives…and are walking with the Lord and righteous in His sight…(this is accomplished by confessing and turning from each sin the Christian makes…1 John 1:9), the Holy Spirit’s full power will easily defeat Satan, as well as the evil desires of their own flesh…

The Lord’s path He has chosen for each of His children’s lives is always perfect… Once again, I must post this scripture written by Solomon, the wisest man there ever was (1 Kings 3:10-12), found in…Proverbs 3:5-6… Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall directyour paths.  (NKJV)

Heavenly Father, Your promise to always provide a way out of evil temptations; or a way to always make them bearable…should be reason enough for all of Your children to do their best to live in Your will and Your ways…  Help all of us understand what we must do to be pleasing in Your sight… And urge all of Your children to always trust that Your path for their lives is always best… I pray for this total submission to You by all of Your children; and by all those who have not yet become part of Your family…in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…

written by bruce r mills