Surprised by Temptation

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.      Ephesians 6:12   NIV

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’    

Matthew 6:13  NIV

   We make four big mistakes when we face temptations and trials in life.

       1.  We are surprised by them.

       2.  We underestimate our enemy.

       3.  We fail to see that our temptation or trial is part of a bigger battle.

       4.  We turn to God last instead of first.

   

   Scripture makes it very clear that the struggle we have in this life is not just about flesh and blood.  We are in the middle of a spiritual battle between the forces of God and the forces of evil. This is why Jesus taught us to pray that we would not be led into temptation and that our Heavenly Father would deliver us from the evil.

   This does not mean we need to look for the devil behind every bush.  It does mean, though, that we need to expect difficult times and be prepared to persevere in the fight.  If we expect life to be hard, then it is much easier to keep a clear head and trust God and do his will in the face of difficulty.

   This week, pray through the Lord’s prayer at the beginning of each day and make sure you are aware of the last sentence of the prayer as you pray it.  Ask your Heavenly Father to lead you away from temptation and to protect you from the schemes of your enemy who desperately wants to devour you.

The Restoring Power of Silence

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.    Isaiah 30:15  NIV

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.     Psalm 46:10-11   NIV

   We battle restlessness.  It’s a common human condition.  Even when we are quiet, our minds may be racing with countless thoughts or filled with worries. This is why the early church father Augustine wrote, “O God you have made our hearts and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.”

   The best way to overcome restlessness and anxiety is to be still in God’s presence.  It’s excruciating for some of us to do this, but it is needed.  How can we do this? 

   Start easy by setting aside 3 to 5 minutes per day to be quiet in God’s presence in a place with no distractions.  It might be in your car before you go into work or in your house before anyone else is awake or somewhere outside.  Once you are in a distraction free place, quietly thank God that HE IS with you.  Affirm his power to work out all things for your good no matter what happens in life.  Affirm your trust in God to give you everything you need to handle whatever comes your way. Surrender yourself completely to God’s love and wisdom and surrender any anxiety you have to him, whether it’s about that day or another day in the future.   It may feel like a battle sometimes, but it is always worth it.

Profitable Pondering

“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”     Hebrews 12:3  NIV

   

    Consider.  Ponder.  Reflect.  Contemplate.  We don’t do much of these and I believe that’s just the way the devil likes it.  The less we think about what we do, the more likely it is that we will get stuck in some difficult and discouraging ruts.

    We should expect difficulty because Jesus faced strong opposition in his pursuit of living to please the Father in a broken and selfish world.  For sure, we will get wonderful tastes of kingdom life while we live on this planet.  We will enjoy samples of what it will be like to live in God’s presence forever.  The more we learn to trust God, the greater our experience will be, even in the middle of this broken world. 

    But it is this broken world that can discourage us and derail us.  It can cause us to “grow weary and lose heart.”  Our best defense against this is to take time to ponder Christ’s life.  He went through persecution and loneliness and dealt with stubborn disciples because the eternal gain was worth the struggle.  This week, set aside some quiet time to ponder what Christ went through for you.   Renew your belief that these battles against sin and suffering are worth fighting and that he wants to give you his strength to fight them.

Centering Prayer and the Priceless Treasure of God's Kingdom

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.    Matthew 13:45-46 NIV

 

 

It's been said that undivided attention may be the world's scarcest resource. One thing for sure is that a lack of focused attention hinders our walk with God.  This weekly "SPA" is all about practices you can use to increase the attention you give to God, which in turn helps you trust him, which in turn helps you to experience the good life he offers us. Even better, the more we experience God's goodness, the more it flows through us to others so they can trust his goodness, too.

There are all kinds of practices, some well known and some less known. One practice is called "centering prayer". A "centering prayer" is a brief prayer we pray often, with sincerity, that helps us reconnect with God and his great goodness. Sometimes it helps to close your eyes or breathe deeply while you pray this prayer. This week, try using this "centering prayer" several times a day to help you remember the priceless value of God's Kingdom and increase your desire to seek his kingdom first. You can write it on an index card to carry it with you while you learn it.

 

"Father, you are the only good and great King. Your kingdom is better than anything this world has to offer. Please open my eyes to see more of the beauty and greatness of your kingdom and give me strength to seek your kingdom above everything else today."

Gaining the Treasures of Wisdom, Insight and Understanding

Your commands make me wiser than my enemies , for they are ever with me.  I have more insight than all my teachers for I meditate on your statutes.  I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.  
Psalm 119:98-100  NIV

   How much do you value wisdom, insight and understanding? They are among the richest treasures of this world because they empower us to fully enjoy life.  Unfortunately, they are highly undervalued by most people.  We tend to put much more energy into gaining the treasures of wealth and popularity, which provide far less help than we think for truly enjoying life.

   Wisdom, insight and understanding are not instant downloads.  They are planted in us as we meditate on God’s truth and they grow in us as we apply God’s truth in daily life.

   This week, practice this meditation and application process by taking these steps.

    1. Choose a command from Scripture.

    2. Write it on an index card, a piece of paper or type it as a 
        reminder in your phone.
    3. Review it and think about it several times a day.
    4. Ask God for opportunities to put them into practice.

For starters, I recommend Matthew 5:44; Philippians 2:3-4 or James 1:19-20.   

Boldness and Respect

They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.      Daniel 3:28  NIV

   Trusting God in a culture that is opposed to, and even hostile toward, your faith and values is a recurring theme in the book of Daniel.  Daniel and his friends are faced with choices to glorify God in the face of opposition or to deny God’s sovereignty in order to maintain their own comfort.
 

   The Apostle Paul said that all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. There are certainly times it is wise to be quiet and there is no need to create controversy.  But there are also times when we must speak up with confidence and hope in God, regardless of the risk to our personal comfort.
 

    In what situations do you find it difficult to stand up for God and his truth?  Have you prayed about these challenges and opportunities?  Have you asked God for boldness to stand up for him?  It could be as simple as not laughing at dirty jokes at work or it could be much more involved, such as learning to defend a specific  aspect of God’s truth with gentleness and respect.  This week, take two steps to increase your willingness to stand up for God.
 

   1.  Write out and think about 1 Peter 3:13-16.  Think about what it means to be ready to give an answer with gentleness and respect.
 

   2.  Ask God to show you where you have been afraid to stand up for him and then ask him to give you grace to be confident and courageous in these areas in the future.

Seeking God for Wisdom

“…But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.”       Daniel 2:27 NIV

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”     James 1:5  NIV

   Recently I was really wrestling with a decision.  I tried to look at the situation from many different angles.  I spent lots of energy on the decision. In the nighttime and daytime, my mind tossed around various scenarios that could result from my decision.   I made a mental list of pros and cons. I thought and rethought and rethought again.  I wasted some energy worrying, too.  It wasn't until I had done all of this that I heard God's whisper, "Have you asked what I want you to do yet?"  I had to say no.  I was disappointed in myself, but thankful for the peace God gave me when I finally did ask him. 

    God will not answer every one of our questions or reveal all the mysteries of the universe.  It’s actually better for us not to have all the answers.  He does promise, however, to give us the wisdom  we need to determine the next step we need to take.

   Are you stuck in neutral on a decision you need to make?  Have you taken the time to get completely quiet before God and ask for his wisdom for your next step?  God will give you his wisdom if you really want it.  This week, take some time to get quiet before God and ask him for wisdom for a decision you need to make.  He may give you a clear next step.  He may give you peace to wait for his timing.  He may give you a simple yes or no.  Regardless of how God directs you, your soul will find rest and you will escape the endless tossing in your mind that steals your energy to live with purpose and love.  You will be able to live with peace.