HELP IS THERE

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

 

I think we all intellectually “get” spiritual warfare.

 

Temptation, sin, challenges, the lures, and trappings of a sinful world are around every corner, behind the next building, one channel away, or up the street bathed in neon lights. We get that. Sometimes we don’t want to admit its potential impact on us, but we do “get” that the "option" for sinful behavior permeates every nook and cranny of our culture.

 

I also believe that we understand that these temptations are vying for our attention 24/7, 365!  Remember who we are up against (John 10:10)

 

Friends there are times for all of us where this battle for our minds and our decisions seems impossible to win. There are occasions when the pull of the temptation feels too strong and the enticement is well, just too “enticing”. We all have moments where the words of the enemy seem sweeter, more persuasive, and more convincing.

 

And when that happens, we can’t fool ourselves into thinking we can handle an advance from the enemy like that alone.

 

We MUST PAUSE and ASK FOR HELP!

 

Way too often we feel that we alone can weather the temptation. 

Too often our pride gets in the way.

We fool ourselves into thinking we can “resist” the temptation on our own. And while when we do resist the enemy WILL flee (James 4:7), we can’t be prideful for we know where that leads. (Proverbs 16:18)

 

Take it from someone who has tried to “white-knuckle” my way through a night without drinking, who has driven past “the club” at 7pm only to return at 9pm, fighting this battle alone just doesn’t work.

 

Be we are not alone in the struggle. 

Paul fought the same stuff. 

I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question? Romans 7:24 (MSG)

 

But Paul also realized that HE HAD HELP!

 

(Is there no one who can do anything for me…)

The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. 

He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions...Romans 7:25 (MSG)

 

Therefore, we must be quick to leverage our ever-present HELP!

(The LORD is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble – Psalm 46) so that we can not only weather the challenge, but overcome them!

 

I want to encourage all of us to remember today to PAUSE and ASK FOR HELP! 

There is NO shame in that. Ever. 

We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. Hebrews 4:15 (MSG)

 

So, take that scripture, that truth to heart today. If you’re personal battle is furious; if temptation and sin are pelting you from every side, WALK RIGHT UP AND GET WHAT HE WANTS TO GIVE, the HELP!

 

I love you all!

Have a blessed DAY!

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE