There’s a saying – “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair” (Martin Luther).
In other words, we cannot escape the desert of temptation. We are living in it, working in it, travelling in it on a daily basis. Those birds of temptation are continuing to circle.
But by God’s grace and with his enablement, we are able to prevent them from settling and taking up residence in our thoughts, our hearts, and poisoning our spiritual lives. (See
Temptation…hurdles…. obstacles...call them what you may….they are stumbling blocks that are put in our way, to prevent us reaching the destination that God has for us.
I don’t think I need to go through a list of temptations in this article. Dear Friend, you know, in your own experience, what your weakness is; your "kryptonite". Guess what! The devil also knows your weaknesses. He knows which buttons to push, and no doubt, he is going to push them!
As much as God is busy shaping you and moulding you to be more like Christ; completing the work that He has begun in you; so too is the devil pulling out all stops to try and bar, barricade and break down what the Holy Spirit is doing in your life. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” (John 10:10).
The devil will use whatever or whomever he chooses to take our focus off the purpose that God has called us to.
Sounds pretty dreary, doesn't it? But take heart,Dear Reader! Here's the nugget of hope for today. As you and I face our valleys of temptation and testing, we are not alone. The One we follow, our Saviour, our Lord, our High Priest, has Himself “been there, done that!” (Read more about Jesus' temptation in Matthew 4:1-11). When it comes to suffering and pain – Jesus has been there, done that…When it comes to being deserted and lonely – Jesus has been there, done that…When it comes to temptation - Jesus has been there, done that…Because He knows first-hand, the desert of temptation – we don’t stand alone when we are in ours. He stands with us and enables us through His word, through His presence, and through the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome.
May you know the presence of Jesus as you deal with those "birds" in your life.
"Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us, And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil..."
God bless you!
Comments