Partners
In Hope

Temptation And Deception

Tuesday November 21, 2023
 

Once we have cleaned up our lives from all past involvement in destructive and addictive practices we are home free for a life of joy and peace and blessing, right?  Wrong!  That’s the very time the devil will do everything in his power to draw us back into bondage and away from the good we are experiencing in our relationship with God.

God has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.  We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure ... Our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed.  We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.  We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God.  We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:6-9 NLT) 

We are vulnerable to drift into relapse when we believe that we don't need to deal with the deceiving ways of the devil.  When we are actively following God’s ways, the devil and his demons will aggressively pursue us and seek to make sinful ways more attractive than the good we are experiencing.  We need to be on guard.  A wise phrase is, “know your enemy.”

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. (1 Peter 5:8 NLT) 

Only the voice of God’s Spirit of Truth within us can reveal what is truth and what is deception.  We need to pay attention to His voice.

Jesus said: “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, …. He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: .... He will guide you into all truth” (John 14:25-26; 16:8, 13 NKJV)

Prayer:  Gracious God, When I am tempted, help me to recognize and act on what your Holy Spirit is saying.  Remind me to guard my heart against the deceit of the evil one.  Amen

 

©2023 Partners in Hope 

Audio for Temptation And Deception

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