1 I love you, Lord;
….you are my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
….my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
..He is my shield, the power that saves me,
….and my place of safety. Psalm 18:1-2 (NLT)
Luke 11:4b (<<click to read the passage)
I think I read the novel Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates, many years ago. It was written in 1865 by American author, Mary Mapes Dodge. There is a short story encompassed in the book about a Dutch boy who saves his country by putting his finger in a leaking dike. The boy stays there all night, despite the cold, until the adults of the village find him and make the necessary repairs.
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It seems like I’ve written about temptation before… But of course, we never have to deal with it…do we? Well, we might not have to deal with it every day – though somedays it seems like it is all we do!
I really do think that most days, temptation is lurking around every corner. If we are of a mind to, we can readily stop it dead in its tracks, a quick prayer, and it is vanquished. But there are those days that we allow that one itsy-bitsy indiscretion and it is like that Dutch boy pulling his finger out of the dike!
The Holy Spirit is always with us and is but a thought away. There is no reason why we should yield but that bent to sinning can deafen our ears. That is why we pray, “And lead us not into temptation [but rescue us from evil].’”
Here is an encouraging passage from 1 Corinthians 10:13,
No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy]. (AMP)
You can do it! Just say “no” to whatever may be lurking around the corner. Emulate that Dutch boy and keep it plugged! Help is just a prayer away!
June 10th, 2020, Wed, 6:01 pm
