#NUTSHELL – DECEMBER 28th — LINE IN THE SAND – James 1:3-5: The Great Wall of China is a gigantic structure which cost an immense amount of money and labor. When it was finished it appeared impregnable; but the enemy breached it, not by breaking it down or going around it, they did it by bribing the gatekeepers. One of the greatest deterrents to maintaining spiritual changes is a failure to safeguard against daily temptations. In fact, a survey of Discipleship Journal readers ranked areas of greatest spiritual challenge as: Materialism, Pride, Self-centeredness, Laziness, Anger, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Lying. Survey respondents noted temptations were more intense when they had neglected their time with God (81 percent) as well as when they were physically tired (57 percent). Resisting temptation was accomplished by prayer (84 percent), avoiding compromising situations (76 percent), Bible study (66 percent), as well as being accountable to someone (52 percent). “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Christian warfare is a battle waged to gain specific territories or freedoms. As Believers we need to be proactive in guarding these territories and watching our gates; the Battlefield where war wages is the fertile soil of the mind. The evil one can’t read our thoughts, but he does observe our actions. We must be careful to consider the situations that we allow ourselves to enter into. We also have to make the effort to set the proper boundaries for those battle lines. Distance combined with the application of spiritual discipline is our best strategy for dealing with temptation. That beings said, it requires us to be wise as well as honest regarding our personal strengths and weaknesses. James 1:3-5 “For you know that when you r faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete,…”
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 12:00:53 +0000
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