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Yesterday I had a heart to heart with my 8 year old son, trying to understand why he sometimes misbehaves in spite of my daily words of encouragement and correction. His simple explanation was: “Mom, I don’t know why – I just can’t help myself.” Even though I was frustrated, it was hard to truly be upset because I understand where he’s coming from. Paul even understands where he’s coming from for as he says in Romans:

Romans 7:18-19 (NIV) ” I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.“

My son saw my frustration and became upset, not because he was in any trouble, but because it hurt him to see me displeased. We’re the same with our Heavenly Father and it hurts us when we feel that we have failed him because of something we did or didn’t do. So how do we not fail? How do we become victorious in our daily battles with the temptations of the flesh?

I think we first need to understand one thing – we’re at war; the enemy is Satan and the battlefield is our mind. “The devil made me do it” is a common excuse we have all used at one time. But truly, the only power Satan has is the power of deception. He’ll deceive you and trick you into falling. One trick that he has used with me is Compromise. For example, he’ll never tell you to eat the whole pie! But he’ll tell you to have a slice today – it won’t do any harm; then tomorrow he’ll tell you the same thing. Before you know it, you have eaten the whole pie!

In war you must arm yourself. Our weapon and armor is the Word of God. To even have a fighting chance, you must continually wear it.

Ephesians 6:11-13 (NIV) “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.“

Stay Tuned for Part Two – Renewing the Mind

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In shadowy places he lies in waiting
Waiting for the right time to pounce
Pouncing when you’re most weakened
Weakened by life’s anchors that wear you out
Out-smarted and overpowered, you resist being seized
Seized by a creature that is ghastly yet tempting
Tempting you, entrapping you, controlling you
Controlling you, while uncontrollably laughing
Laughing in victory because he took you down
Down to the depths of hell, where only he belongs

Message:

“Soldiers in Christ, Awake!
Your enemy  gains ground
When you are sleeping”

© Copyright A.K.Browne, All Rights Reserved.