Overcoming Temptation :: Part 2

                              {Written by Bethany Ann}

The other day as I was in the car I started to think about red lights. Most people don't really think much about it when they see a red light. They just know it means STOP! Even the most youngest of children know this simple sign. Have you ever thought about how God has "red lights" for us? Sometimes His "red lights" are in forms of parents, the Bible, wise Godly friends or our pastor. What would the streets be like without stop signs and red lights? It certainly wouldn't take long for many people to die and get hurt and it would be a jumbled mess rather quickly. We will get the same result if we do not heed and obey God's laws and obey them. While stop signs and red lights are always there, and God's laws are always there, they will not do us any god if we do not obey them. God has rules that must be followed in His Word, but sometimes we don't want to follow the rules, we want to do what we want to do. But the Lord knows best! He uses the Holy Spirit to inform us that danger is ahead and that it is not safe to continue on in that way or on that path. When we are getting ready to disobey, the Holy Spirit prickles at out mind warning us not to go on. But sadly we often don't listen and our foolish pride and belief that we are smarter than others will end us in a lot of trouble.

      The devil would like nothing short of making us fall into temptation, so he will do ANYTHING to get us to fall into his trap. He feeds us lies that have 1 percent truth and 99 percent lie, to make us believe it, thinking it is true. 1 Peter 5:8 warns us: "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." So this is our first "stop sign" or our "red light'! We must at all costs resist the devil and when we do, we will gain this precious reward promised in God's Word: "Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." {1 Peter 5:9-11}

     So just how do we resist the devil? Ephesians 6:10-20 gives us a wonderful picture of how we can accurately prepare our self for the darts of the devil:

 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."

      We must daily put on this "armor" or we will have no chance against the devils schemes! With the Lord's help we CAN resist the devil and when we do we will gain an even stronger faith in the Lord and will grow closer to Him. Dear sister, please remember the importance of resisting the devil! The Lord has great plans for you but if you don't obey His Word then we will easily fall into the trap of the devil! Stand firm in Christ and do not grow faint  for:

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

{Galatians 6:9}