Corona Devo 3170

I did really well today...almost all day. 
I've been trying to eat a little healthier, and to cut out a few more sweets and to focus more on meals than (unhealthy) snacking.  And I was doing really well.  

But then, for the low, low price of two dollars and twenty nine cents, I fell to temptation.

Sweet, salty, vanilla-drizzled temptation in the form of flavored kettle corn.

  • When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone...  ~James 1:13 
  • If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.  ~James 4:17

You would think that if I was going to fall, it would be for a higher dollar-value item, but the sweet vanilla flavored kettle corn for $2.29 is what tempted me out of responsible eating, and what got me into gluttony.

Okay, so "gluttony" may be a bit forceful, because I haven't eaten the whole bag...yet.  But I still have a lot of night left, and I don't have a "good feeling" about the (delicious) temptation of the last half of that bag of sweet vanilla flavored kettle corn that is left.

What I need to do is shut the bag and shut my mouth and walk away from it, and walk towards God.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (8) Come near to God and he will come near to you.   ~James 4:7-8

~~~

Your sin-battle today may not be against a $2.29 bag of chocolate-drizzled popcorn, but God's advice is the same regardless of what temptation we face today, and He has provided His Word so that we have a foundation to fight from, and a fortress to be protected by.

  • I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  ~Psalm 119:11  
  • The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.  He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.  ~Psalm 18:2

~~~

The Lord is no stranger to sin. and yet He never fell to it, as we do.  Out of His love for us, and in His purity over us, God gave us His Word to battle sin, and to know that we are not alone as we face it.  

  • No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.  ~I Corinthians 10:13  
  • For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.  ~Hebrews 4:15 

~~~

Today my battle against sin and temptation was with food, but many days my temptation lies with the voice and intent of my tongue: will I speak life or death to others?      

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.  ~Psalm  18:21

And still other days, my temptation is worry, or anger, or fear, or control.  

I find that there are so many ways for me to fall short of the glory of God, and I am familiar with most of them.

...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...  ~Romans 3:23

~~~

Today it only took $2.29 to get my house of cards to fall.  But the Lord loves us still.  

And He knows  (every detail and every time) that we fall to temptation, but our holy Heavenly Father fosters a forgiveness policy with His children that is amazing...and life-changing. 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  ~I John 1:9

God knows all about that whole bag of sweet vanilla flavored kettle corn that I just ate (Yes...I finished the bag) and He loves us anyway.

And that goes for any sin that we have fallen in to: God still loves us even though we fall short of His glory.   
Right about now, our spirit wants to protest, "Oh no...You don't know what I have done, God, or you wouldn't forgive me.  

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge.  I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. (2) I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. (3) He sends from heaven and saves me...  ~Psalm 57:1-3

But our Heavenly Father looks us in the eye today and speaks His Word into our hearts today, and He says: 

...as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.  ~Psalm 103:12

 ~~~

Temptation (in any and every form) entices us today.  But (Be better than me with the $2.29 bag of popcorn!) we can stand firm in our faith and against sin if we will commit ourselves to Christ and God's holy Word.  

He will not fail us and if we will unite with Him today, we will not fail Him.

  • Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.  ~James 1:12  
  • Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  ~Romans 12:2   

~~~

Let's do really well today...all day.  Let's clothe ourselves with Christ today, and let's deny temptation (evil desires) today. 

Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.  ~Romans 13:14

Blessings,

sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com 


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