SALSF: DAILY DEVOTION 10-6-2019

DON'T GIVE TEMPTATION POWER!

"Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy  2:22 KJV)

Have you ever watched a food advertisement on television and suddenly felt you were hungry? Have you ever heard someone cough and immediately felt the need to clear your throat? Ever watched someone release a big yawn and felt the urge to yawn yourself? This is the power of suggestion working within your mind. We naturally move toward whatever our attention is focused on. The more you think about something, the stronger it takes hold of you. It is this same power of suggestion that the devil uses to win a believer into committing sin - that is the root cause of temptation.

This is why repeating, "I must stop eating too much or stop lying or stop lusting" is a self-defeating strategy. It keeps you focused on what you don't want. It's like announcing, "I'm never going to do what my mom did." You are setting yourself up to repeat it. Have you ever wondered why is it that, the more you make up your mind to stop a particular thing you don't like doing, the more you go deeper into it? That is because your attention is given to it.

Temptation begins by capturing your attention. What it gets your attention, it goes ahead by arouses your emotions. Then your emotions activate your behavior, and you act on what you feel. The more you focus on "I don't want to do this," the stronger temptation draws you into its web. 

What is the way out? Ignoring a temptation is far more effective than fighting it. When thoughts of bad stuffs or deeds come into your mind, don't contemplate with it; outrightly replace it with the thought of something good and think on these good things (see Philippians 4:8). Once your mind is on something else, the temptation loses its power. So when temptation calls you on the phone, don't argue with it, just hang up! Sometimes this means physically leaving a tempting situation. This is one time it is okay to run away. Walk away from a group that is gossiping. 

To avoid being stung, stay away from the bees!

Prayer

Father, in the name of Jesus I sanctify my whole being; soul, spirit and body for your indwelling presence to thrive in my life. My body and mind are not experimental tools for the devil to toy in the name of Jesus, Amen!

Pastor D. STANLEY-MARCUS

President