Reading Made to Crave
for the Proverbs 31 online Bible study this week has me thinking about my own battles with eating the right foods. It also brings to mind, people around me who have struggled with many other things. Someone who is a recovering drug addict, a friend who's been through a very rough time and for a while was turning to other things for her happiness, using alcohol to forget your troubles, men who turn to porn to feel good, etc. The list can go on and on.
Satan knows exactly what lies to tell us when we feel alone, stressed, tired, overwhelmed, depressed, worthless, you name it! He knows that he can tempt us with whatever it is that will make us temporarily feel better. He knows that I'll go grab sweets in the kitchen when the kids are driving me crazy. You get the idea. What does he trick you into? God's word tells us that we will be tempted and that it will be earthly things that tempt us.
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man
The good news is that God will provide a way out.
Even though it won't be easy, God is there and it's not impossible to overcome it! The hard truth though is that we are turning to earthly THINGS to find our happiness. We aren't turning to God for strength to overcome those temptations. Instead we are giving into them because we know that doing so will bring temporary happiness.
We basically have two choices.
1. We can have a pity party for ourselves and continuously give into Satan's lies and temptations.Then we'll continue to feel bad about ourselves and continue to give into the lies. It's a vicious cycle that is used against us to keep us trapped.
2. We can seek God! We can pray when we feel tempted, alone or stressed. We can read God's word daily for the renewing of our mind. God gave us the wonderful option turning to church family and other believers for encouragement.
God has given us so many options for seeking Him! I love that I can pray to Him all day long. I can ask for strength when I want the yummy cookies my pastor's wife baked and I'm offered one. He's there to help when you feel lonely or stressed or afraid. Whatever it may be we need to learn to seek God's face instead of living in the vicious cycle Satan creates for us.
What's your choice? Freedom and a sense of accomplishment that comes from seeking God during a time of temptation or hardship or will you continue to stay in the detrimental cycle of lies that Satan creates for us?
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 stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Even though it won't be easy, God is there and it's not impossible to overcome it! The hard truth though is that we are turning to earthly THINGS to find our happiness. We aren't turning to God for strength to overcome those temptations. Instead we are giving into them because we know that doing so will bring temporary happiness.
We basically have two choices.
1. We can have a pity party for ourselves and continuously give into Satan's lies and temptations.Then we'll continue to feel bad about ourselves and continue to give into the lies. It's a vicious cycle that is used against us to keep us trapped.
2. We can seek God! We can pray when we feel tempted, alone or stressed. We can read God's word daily for the renewing of our mind. God gave us the wonderful option turning to church family and other believers for encouragement.
God has given us so many options for seeking Him! I love that I can pray to Him all day long. I can ask for strength when I want the yummy cookies my pastor's wife baked and I'm offered one. He's there to help when you feel lonely or stressed or afraid. Whatever it may be we need to learn to seek God's face instead of living in the vicious cycle Satan creates for us.
What's your choice? Freedom and a sense of accomplishment that comes from seeking God during a time of temptation or hardship or will you continue to stay in the detrimental cycle of lies that Satan creates for us?
Jacquie, amen! Seeking God's face and making every effort to make the choice to read God's Word and allow His Truth to renew me choice, by choice. Thank you for sharing your thoughts today to encourage us all on this journey of Made to Crave!
ReplyDelete:) Missy (OBS Blog Hop Team)