“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”             1 Corinthians 10:12 NIV

Many people act like there’s no defence against temptation. With the first hint of desire, they immediately throw their hands up and give in. We fail to realize temptation is a process. Processes can be short-circuited at any stage. Temptation usually begins in the mind, the source of an active fantasy life. The human mind has the capacity to create entire exchanges and experiences out of nothing. Through fantasy, we can enjoy something without ever bringing it into “the real world.” So, we think if it isn’t “real,” then it’s perfectly harmless. But that’s not true. Fantasy leads to a downward spiral of enslavement. Over time, it becomes boring, and the need for more gratifying fulfilment builds. Ultimately, our thoughts are so wrapped around temptation that it seems impossible to think of anything else. At that point, the desire holds our minds captive. When our lives become focused on anything other than our Lord, we’re trapped. Because the process of temptation starts in the mind, it can be difficult to escape. No matter where we go or what we do, we’ll never be able to outrun our minds! But we can disrupt the process by filling our minds with God’s Word. As we continually feed our minds with a hearty diet of Scripture, God’s Word will go to work against our fantasies. The Bible is powerful. We can trust it to set us free from the burden of temptation. Praise the Lord!

PRAYER THOUGHT

Lord, as we feed our minds with Your Word it sets us free.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, as we continually feed our minds with a hearty diet of Your Word, we can trust it to set us free from the burden of temptation. Thank You. AMEN

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Matthew 13:31-35, 44-52

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