“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” (Jeremiah 1:12 ESV)

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:13 ESV)

It was a dark and rainy night. I had a full belly, my eyelids were drooping and I was ready to snuggle down with a movie and stay in. But! Church beckoned. Oh, it’s ok. It’s just one night. I won’t be missed. But what would I miss? Every time I don’t go to church, God moves in big ways. Not that He doesn’t when I’m there. The temptation was there but I got myself ready and went to church. I overcame the temptation to stay home.

That is not the only kind of temptation that the devil throws our way. What about drinking, pornography, lying, swearing, drugs, even overeating? But we have someone on our side who will fight with us. Jesus will fight with us. He wants us to be overcomers not defeated.

You see, the devil sends temptations, not God. God won’t do that. The devil will so he can derail us in our walk with God. He doesn’t want us to go higher in our walk with Jesus. The devil wants us to fail. He has set me up for failure so many times, I can’t even keep track anymore. But I have overcome them and came out victorious!

You can too. It seems to me that the closer I get to God, the more the devil sends roadblocks to to stop me. I have been doing these since March 22, 2020. That is a total of 636 days of devotionals. There have been a few repeats and a few I went a different direction on. I have been tempted to quit a few times but God won’t release me just yet. He keeps saying “just a little longer. My sheep need fed.” So on I go.

And so can you. Temptation is a lie of the devil. Don’t listen. Get up, get dressed and get going. You can fight this fight with the help of Jesus.

Have a great day and don’t give in to temptation.

Kathy Keller
Writer and Prayer warrior with Answers2Prayer Ministries
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