Prayer-
LORD, you are the Good Father. You not only care for our physical needs but our emotional needs, as well. Lord, it is by your power, through the Holy Spirit, we can endure our temptations. Please help us to recognize our insecurity triggers and/or our unhealthy urges start as mental temptations. Lord, you have equipped us to conquer them. May we adjust our alignment, and keep us in the center of your will.
Lord, the knowledge of power to renew our mind and rewire our thoughts offers me HOPE! One day, with the Holy Spirit’s power, and through my training, my temptation will not cause me to stumble. I don’t have to fall back on my old ways. I can stand firm in Your truth and transform into someone NEW.
Thank you, Jesus, for this gift. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for your power. And Thank you, LORD, for your unconditional love.
In Jesus name – Amen
READ-
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 (NIV)
This morning, wisdom from this verse restores my HOPE. There are several temptations I struggle with that captivate my mind. Insecurities, fear of failure, lack of self-worth, and the list continues as my thoughts run wild. But this verse offers me freedom because now I know:
1. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. Everything that tempts me to turn away from God’s love, God’s plan, and God’s purpose are not unique. I am not alone! I don’t have to be ashamed of my struggles, nor do I have to hide them. If I need to seek help professionally, there is freedom found from wise counsel.
2. God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. Picture a farmer using a shovel or a hoe to shift the dirt as he preps for the seeds. As that farmer uses the tool, blisters form on his hands, causing severe pain. In the evening, the farmer doctors his hands and places clean bandages around them. With the rise of the sun, there is still more work to be done. Even though his hands ache, the reward of the harvest compels him to push past the pain. The body, aware of the constant labor, forms a shield to weaken the sting, and a callus appears. However, if the farmer focused on the pain and withdrew from the work, the harvest would never appear. He knew from previous harvests, a day would come when his hands no longer blistered.
Previous experiences can offer courage and strength to persevere through the pain. So when facing temptations over and over, “consider it joy my brother and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because the testing of our faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything.” (James 1:2-4 NIV)
3. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. So look for God’s open door. He provides a way out… so you can endure it. Endure implies suffering and remaining faithful through the pain. It will be hard to confront our temptations. However, like calluses form to toughen the skin, our perseverance will toughen the mental shield God provides for our protection.
We will face emotional and physical pain in this world, and it will be more than you or I can bear on our own. But take heart, sweet friend, because Jesus has already conquered this world. With the Holy Spirit, we can overcome the temptations that hinder us from following Him. God gives us the power to RENEW our Minds (Romans 12:2).
Praise: