Distractions

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: Hebrews 10:35-36

35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

Memory verse: Psalm 42:2(New American Bible )

"My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When can I enter and see the face of God?"

Today's reading: Song of Solomon 6-8 Galatians 4

Distractions

As I studied this morning about self-control being the knot on the end of the string of spirtual fruit, I heard something that we have talked about before but in a little different light.

I have made the statement before that our enemy, satan, has two jobs. The first is to keep us from placing our faith in Christ as we become children of God. If or when he loses that battle, he puts all his energy in keeping us from becoming who God intends for us to be by worldy distractions, persecutions, trials, etc.

Bear with me as I reword this. I want to say that the 'world' has only two jobs it does on us. The world is covered in the air(its atmosphere). In Ephesians, the second chapter, the enemy is called the prince of the power of the air. We must hear this to say that the wicked spiritual forces in our atmosphere are under His power. (Ephesians 2:1, "...the spirit at work in those who are disobedient") We must know that these same forces are at work to make us stumble.

So, the world uses everything it has to keep us from knowing Jesus. Then, when it loses that battle, the world fights against our joy becoming full in Him.

This world is not our home-but-it is our testing ground. We stand this test with the fruit of the Spirit(Galatians 5:22,23), with resolve like a rock(Isaiah 50:7), the armor of God(Ephesians 6:10-18) and with everything we need(Philippians 4:19).

This is a simple but profound reminder that each moment is warfare for our joy in Christ Jesus that brings glory to God waged by the same old enemy that tempted Adam and Eve and the same that tempted Christ-the same that tempts us. His same old weapons just look nicer and sweeter but they are still bitter and turn sour.

Learn more of our Lord and His presence and sharpen your edge and live in His joy.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Glorious God whose name is feared by the enemy, fill me with glorious thoughts of heaven and fill me with Your joy for today. Forgive me my negative attitude and lead me away from judging the world and into seeing the world as the field of harvest.

God of self-control and peace,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen