Tag Archives: Faith

Finding Hope through Healing and Faith

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A Short Story by Lisa Blair

Some people believe that God has stepped back from performing miracles. They suggest that the Age of Wonders concluded with the closing chapters of the Old Testament. Yet, many individuals have experienced His miraculous presence. This affirms that we continue to live in a New Testament era filled with His grace and intervention.

For the majority of us, life unfolds in a landscape often colored by illness and uncertainty. We seldom witness those breathtaking moments where a person, deeply entrenched in suffering, experiences swift and profound healing. Still, for those of us fortunate enough to have encountered personal healing, the experience is enlightening. Witnessing a loved one rise from the depths of despair also clarifies the fingerprints of divine miracles in hindsight. It is within the small, seemingly insignificant moments that we recognize the turning points in our narratives.

In times of distress, when health falters, medical professionals can only discern that something is amiss; the precise nature of the ailment remains elusive. They tirelessly search for answers, exploring the perplexing landscape of symptoms and the underlying causes. Then, through relentless research and rigorous inquiry, a diagnosis emerges like a beacon of hope, though the path to recovery still feels muddled and uncertain. The doctors, though armed with knowledge, grapple with the question of how to combat the illness itself: Which medications can alleviate the anguish? What treatments hold the promise of halting its progression, or even eradicating it?

Suddenly, a breakthrough occurs—a ray of clarity pierces the fog of uncertainty. Answers materialize, and treatment plans take shape, ushering in a renewed sense of direction. Some people without faith credit this transformation solely to scientific endeavor. However, I believe all creation, including the principles of science, manifests God’s will.

With the diagnosis in hand, a tangible course of action presents itself, fostering hope for positive outcomes. Each step forward is a silent testament to God’s handiwork. Whatever journey we traverse, God accompanies us. We awaken each morning—a miracle in its own right. As we navigate through illness, we are granted another day, even when it feels more like a burden than a blessing. Each round of medication and therapy eventually leads to a flicker of vitality. In these moments, fragments of our former selves break through the darkness of our trials.

Do we recognize these transformations as miracles or as the fruits of science? They result from scientific advancement. Yet, they are also infused with the miracle of divine grace that envelops our lives. When we take the time to express gratitude for these small miracles, we affirm that our Savior stands with us. We acknowledge this divine presence. As we give thanks for regaining our health, we realize we are never truly alone. This holds true regardless of the prognosis. Each day is a precious gift, inviting us to live fully, even midst the challenges we face.

We can open our hearts to the prospect of a grand miracle—the successful completion of a long-awaited operation, the elimination of daily medications, and the farewell to prolonged rehabilitation. We learn to persevere through the harshest trials, eventually arriving at a point where life feels vibrant and manageable once more.

Gratitude fills our souls for the time we have been granted. We cherish the renewal of our relationship with the Lord, who stood steadfast during our darkest moments of illness. With every breath, we embrace the present. We acknowledge the inevitable passage of time. We also recognize the certainty of death that awaits us all. Yet, instead of succumbing to despair, we revel in the beauty of each day lived fully. We know with confidence that even amid life’s fragility, tomorrow can bring the promise of renewed hope.

The emergence of renewed hope grants us the invaluable gift of introspection. During moments of self-reflection, we come to understand that healing manifests in various dimensions of our lives. We experience physical healing as our bodies recover and regain strength. We go through emotional healing as we learn to cope with our feelings and overcome past traumas. Most importantly, we experience spiritual healing as we reconnect with a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment. These transformative experiences are the miraculous gifts of life. Far too many overlook these gifts. They are bestowed upon us by our loving Father in Heaven.

As we close out 2024, reflect on the miracles in your life. List them, and count your miracles, then praise God for His interventions in your life. Our miracles are endless.

Scriptures:

Romans 15:19:

“They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit”. 

Psalms 77:14:

“You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples”

Mark 11:24:

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Romans 15:13:

 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

James 5:14-15: 

“The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well” 

Psalms‬ ‭103‬:‭2‬-‭3‬:

“Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,”

Isaiah‬ ‭38‬:‭16‬:

“Lord, by such things people live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health and let me live.”

God’s knowledge existed before the beginning of time. In Jeremiah 1:5, it is declared, “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew you.”

Additionally, in Ephesians 1:4, it states, “Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.”

Hebrews 13:8 states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” He healed people in the past, He heals people now, and He will continue to heal people in the future.

God declares, “I know the plans I have for you.” God knows what we will go through. Some challenges work together to help you become a mature Christian who submits to His will. Teaching you how to surrender your Will to the Will of God.

Scriptures – Bible.com

Photo – LAB Photos


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Vanilla Purpose

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A Short Story, by Lisa Blair

Once, there was a young man entrusted with the creation of a special mixture—an inherited family recipe—vital for launching the town’s beloved bicycle race. One day, as he diligently mixed the ingredients for the highly anticipated Hillside Mountain Race, the bell above his shop door chimed, announcing the arrival of a customer. Distracted by the arrival of the customer, he paused his work to help them. Sometime later, returning to his task, he was unaware that his brief interruption had caused him to miss adding a key ingredient.

This family recipe, which was handed down was not written down, it was in their hearts and was no ordinary recipe. It was crucial that the process be completed without interruption, ensuring every ingredient was carefully measured and blended. The mixture, placed in a balloon, would be ignited at the start of the race, releasing an explosion of fragrance and sound that signaled the beginning of the thrilling event.

That evening, the young man felt a vague sense of unease. Something did not sit well. He knew he overlooked something but exhaustion got the better of him. He decided not to revisit his work and went to bed, promising himself he would wake up early the next morning.

 As he drifted into sleep, his dreams transported him back to the shop. He was mixing the ingredients again, but something felt off—just as it had during the day. In his dream, the scene replayed over and over until, with a start, he realized what was missing: the potent vanilla extract, the heart of the mixture. It was this ingredient that created the iconic scent everyone associated with the race.

The realization startled him awake. As he lay in bed, he prayed for clarity, asking God to confirm his suspicion. Deep down, he knew the omission wasn’t just an oversight; it was a metaphor for something greater in his life.

The young man hadn’t always wanted to continue his family’s work. He longed to leave his small town, explore the world, and find something more exciting. The apothecary shop felt like a burden, a tether keeping him from adventure. Yet, that night, he began to see his inheritance in a new light.

 The next morning, as the race day buzz filled the town, he rushed to the shop. He opened the vial of the prepared mixture, sniffed it, and confirmed his fear—the vanilla extract had been forgotten. Quickly, he added the missing drops, carefully blending them in until the mixture was perfect.

At that moment, he realized something profound: this simple task, which had once felt mundane, carried significance far beyond what he’d imagined. Without it, the race wouldn’t begin with the same joy, excitement, and tradition the town cherished. His family’s recipe wasn’t just about starting a race—it was about creating a moment of unity and anticipation for everyone.

This realization shifted his perspective. His work wasn’t just a job; it was part of a legacy, a purpose handed down to him. He thought of Christ, who embraced His purpose as a servant, conducting His Father’s work. Just as Christ’s purpose was part of a greater plan, so too was his own role in the small but vital task of carrying on his family’s tradition.

In our lives, we often overlook the importance of the everyday tasks we perform. We get distracted, searching for something more spectacular, and fail to see the significance of what’s right in front of us. Like the young man, we may initially see our work as burdensome, but these very things are often tied to our purpose.

God has given each of us a unique purpose, woven into the fabric of His plan. It might not always feel grand or exciting, but it is essential. Christ lived His life as a servant, following the recipe given to Him by the Father. In the same way, our purpose is a gift from God, even if it feels small or ordinary.

If you find yourself dissatisfied with where you are, ask God for clarity and direction. Trust that He is weaving your story, preparing you for the next chapter. Sometimes, He reveals our full purpose all at once. Other times, He matures us through the smaller, unrelated moments of our lives, building the character and resilience we need for what’s to come.

The young man’s realization transformed the way he approached his work. He saw it not as a burden but as a calling. His family’s legacy now felt like a gift, and his contribution—though small in the grand scheme—played a vital role in bringing joy to others.

In the same way, our daily efforts, no matter how insignificant they seem, are part of a larger story. Each task, each challenge, and each moment of faithfulness contributes to God’s greater plan. When we embrace our purpose, even in the ordinary, we become part of something extraordinary.

The race began that day with the familiar pop of the balloon and the rush of fragrant excitement in the air. The young man watched with pride, knowing he had played a part in creating that moment.

And so, it is with us. Our purpose, no matter how small it seems, is a thread in the tapestry of God’s work in the world.

The Bible is the story of Christ and consequently the story of us. Several scriptures prove that God created our lives before time began.

Jeremiah 1:4-5, Now the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born.”

Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord…

Psalm 139:15-16, my frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Here I saw my unformed substance; In your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

1 Peter 1:20, He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you. Ephesians 1:11, in him we have obtained an inheritance comma having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.

God created us and knew us before we entered the womb. Part of his creation was to give each of us a purpose. The purpose is our inheritance. Our inheritance is the gift of advancing God’s Word. God created all of us, some with exciting careers and futures others with essential jobs that are the cogs in the wheel. God has also given us free will to choose and change our direction. This story confirms that whatever your purpose is, do it for the glory of God. Like the young man, change your thinking from that of being burdened to that of advancing and protecting your inheritance. As you grow in the Word, your inheritance may evolve into something new having given you all to the development of earlier stages of your inheritance. For most, life is governed by God’s timeline and purpose. Always seek His direction, and wisdom, and plan for your future as you process through this life.

Remember these keywords: purpose and inheritance. Rick Warren authored the book, Purpose Driven Life. We should seek our purpose in life and live it accordingly. God’s inheritance is our gift. We are the object of God’s love and desire for us is reflected in all He does for us. We experience life through Him. He works on our behalf in ways we can see and in ways only known to Him. While He doesn’t promise an easy road, we may find ourselves on the one less traveled road. He doesn’t promise an easy life but is always with us. In all things, He promises to never leave us or forsake us. He is always with us.He will lead us into our future and guide us to our purpose, which is our inheritance from Him.

Scriptures – Bible.com

Photo – Free Google Images

 

 

Shalom Shalom

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In Hebrew the phrase Shalom-Shalom, means perfect peace. It is yours if you keep your mind on the Lord. ~ Lisa Blair

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, For in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ (bible.com)

Note: I extracted the following commentary from EnduringTruth.com commentary on verses 3-4.

My prayer is that each of us will experience Shalom Shalom, the perfect peace of God.

I also encourage you to pray before reading Isaiah 26:3-4, followed by reading the extract (and the full commentary). Taking the time to pray and prepare your heart can deepen your understanding and connection to the scriptures. Inviting God into your reading makes you more likely to gain insights and peace.

A good method to gain understanding is to:

  1. Always pray and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through the passages
  2. Read the Passage(s) in the Bible
  3. Read the commentary(s) with more understanding

Let God speak to your mind. Don’t just skim over the text to read a devotion.

Shalom Shalom is yours when you put God first.

Partial Commentary explaining verses three and four.

  1. (3-4) The LORD is our source of strength.
    You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.

a. You will keep him in perfect peace: This is a wonderful promise: perfect peace. God promises that we can have perfect peace, and even be kept in a place of perfect peace.

i. In Hebrew, the term perfect peace is actually shalom shalom. This shows how repetition communicates intensity in Hebrew. It is not just shalom; it is shalom shalom, perfect peace.

ii. “Understand, dear soul, that it is thy privilege to live inside the double doors of God’s loving care. He says to thee, ‘Peace, peace.’ If one assurance is not enough, He will follow it with a second and a third.” (Meyer)

iii. Some can have this perfect peace, but it is fleeting, and they are never kept there. Others can be kept in peace, but it is not a perfect peace, it is the peace of the wicked, the peace of spiritual sleep and ultimate destruction. But there is a perfect peace that the LORD will keep us in.

b. Whose mind is stayed on You: This is the place of perfect peace and the source of it. When we keep our minds stayed – settled upon, established upon – the LORD Himself, then we can be kept in this perfect peace.

i. To be kept in this perfect peace is a matter of our mind. This isn’t so much a matter of our spirit or of our soul or of our heart. It is a matter of our mind. We are to love the LORD our God with all of our mind(Matthew 22:37). We are transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2). We can have the mind of Christ(1 Corinthians 2:16, Philippians 2:5). We are not to set our mind on earthly things(Philippians 3:19), but to set our mind on things above (Colossians 3:2). The Christian life is not an unthinking life of just doing, or experiencing, but it is also about thinking, and where we set our mind is essential in our walk before the LORD.

ii. To be kept in this perfect peace, our mind must be stayed. According to Strong’s Dictionary, the Hebrew word sawmak comes from the root “to prop,” and has the idea “to lean upon or take hold of…bear up, establish, uphold, lay, lean, lie hard, put, rest self, set self, stand fast, stay (self), sustain.” In other places the same word is translated sustained(Genesis 27:37, Psalm 3:5), or when the priest would put their hands on the head of a sacrificial animal (Exodus 29:10, 15, 19), or of the laying on of hands in other circumstances (Numbers 27:18), of being upheld (Psalm 71:6), to stand fast upon (Psalm 111:8), of being established(Psalm 112:8), of leaning upon (Isaiah 36:6, 48:2). It is fair to ask the disciples of Jesus Christ: What sustains your mind? What do you lay your mind upon? What upholdsyour mind? What does your mind stand fast upon? What is your mind establishedupon? What does your mind lean upon? To have this perfect peace, your mind cannot occasionally come to and lean upon the LORD; it has to be stayed on Him.

iii. To be kept in this perfect peace, our mind must be stayed on the LORD. If our mind is stayed on ourselves, or our problems, or the problem people in our lives, or on anything else, we can’t have this perfect peace. This is the heart that says with the Apostle Paul, that I may know Him (Philippians 3:10). In his spiritual attacks against us, Satan loves to get our minds set on anything except the LORD.

c. Because he trusts in You: This is another way of expressing the idea of keeping our minds stayed on Him. Almost always, you keep your mind stayed on whatever you are trusting. When we trust the LORD, we keep our mind stayed on Him.

i. Proverbs 3:5 expresses this same idea: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. The word for lean in Proverbs 3:5 comes from the same root as the word stayed in Isaiah 26:3. When we trust in the LORD, we do not lean on our own understanding. To lean on the LORD is to trust Him. To be sustained by the LORD is to trust Him. To be established by the LORD is to trust Him. To be upheld by the LORD is to trust Him.

ii. The battle for trust in our lives begins in our minds. If we trust the LORD, it will show in our actions, but it will begin in our mind.

d. Trust in the LORD forever: Because of the promise of Isaiah 26:3, we are encouraged to trust in the LORD forever – and therefore to receive the blessing of the promise, perfect peace.

e. For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength: If the LORD calls us to rely on Him completely with our mind, He appeals to our mind with a rational reason why we should trust the LORD – because He is everlasting strength. It isn’t that the LORD has everlasting strength, He is everlasting strength.

i. Clarke’s comment on Isaiah 12:2 applies here also: “The word Yah read here is probably a mistake; and arose originally from the custom of the Jewish scribes, who, when they found a line too short for the word, wrote as many letters as filled it, and then began the next line with the whole word.”

Peace be with you.

Source: https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/isaiah-26/

Scripture: bible.com

Photo: LABphoto

You Are My Strong Tower

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Somebody needs to hear this!

You, Lord, are my strong tower. You provide for all of my needs. You direct me to walk in the light of day and caution me not to fall back into the darkness. You guide me through the Holy Spirit who lives in me. Your love for me is unending and I seek only You, my Lord and Savior. I sing of your strength. Every morning is a new day you bestow upon me a new day where new mercies are given to me. Thank you, Lord, for being my Father, my Banner, and my Savior! I praise you, my Triune God, for my new day. I sing aloud of Your lovingkindness.

17 But I—I sing of Your strength!
Yes, in the morning I sing aloud of Your lovingkindness.
For You have been my fortress,
    a refuge in the day of my trouble.
18 O my strength, to You I sing praises.
For God is my strong tower—
my God of lovingkindness. ~ Psalm 59:17-18

Sing praise – This is the day for my breakthrough into the land of milk and honey, a metaphor for spiritual and physical provision. You are my strong tower, you sure me up in my weakness. You alone restored my soul. You are my Savior. You are worthy to be praised. Glory, glory, Glory! hallelujah!

In Jesus’s Almighty Name, AMEN!🙏🏽🙏🏽🫶🫶

Reference – Bible.com

Photo – AI generated

Remember Your Journey with God: The Importance of Recalling Our Spiritual Walk

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We are called to remember God and His promises to us. ~Lisa Blair

God desires that we recall our spiritual journey with Him. In the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses reminded the Israelites about the importance of acknowledging God’s authority. God wants us to remember our forefathers as well as our own spiritual journey with Him. The Israelites had forgotten God’s role in their lives. Their disobedience, creating idols to worship, and their abandonment of living holy led to an extension of their eleven-day trip. Instead of reaching the Promised Land quickly, they wandered through the desert for forty years. How often do we choose our own path over God’s, only to end up wandering aimlessly in a figurative desert?

God desires that we recollect His promises and our sojourn with Him. This includes the highs and lows. It also encompasses the successes and failures. We should remember the ordinary and extraordinary. He desires us to remember that even in the most challenging times He is here. When we felt forsaken by Him, He was invariably there. He was inspiring us. He was strengthening us. He was challenging our beliefs. He was blessing us along the path. “God wishes us to bear in mind that every advantage we obtain is dependent on remembering not only what He does for us but who He is in our lives. He also desires us to recall His laws and precepts about life on this earth” (NKJV, Stanley, C. The Principles Bible, p. 195).

Throughout our odyssey with God, we do not always comprehend the end goal. We do not always expect the result of the challenges we face. Nevertheless, we must trust that God is continuously here to safeguard, direct, and give in ways we do not grasp. For example, in Daniel’s battle with the lions, God’s care and intervention brought glory to His name. His companion’s ordeal in the fiery furnace created a deeper sense of wonder and trust in His abilities. These experiences imparted a valuable lesson to Daniel. Nothing can sever our connection with God. Even in desperate situations, we can find comfort and strength in Him.

David’s life provides another example of trust in God’s promises and obedience to His commands. David placed his trust in God’s assurances, and he modeled his life according to God’s precepts. He knew that God would always keep His promises, despite the skepticism or adversity that others show. When confronting the daunting Goliath, David’s confidence in God’s assurance of protection empowered him to stand up against a giant. He killed the giant with a single rock. He became King of Israel and was blessed because of his faithfulness.

It is crucial to remember as Christians that God’s promises are not exclusively for David or the Israelites. They are available to us as well. The promise of salvation is open to everyone who professes belief in Jesus Christ as God’s Son. Jesus assured us that whoever trusts in Him will inherit eternal life (John 3:16). God’s promises are also obvious in our daily lives. He commits to never abandoning us or leaving us without provisions (Hebrews 13:5). He also commits to fulfilling all our needs (Philippians 4:19). Additionally, He imparts wisdom when we entreat it (James 1:5). Trusting in these assurances empowers us to move ahead with confidence, knowing that God keeps His word always.

During uncertain and tumultuous times, we often question God’s promises much like the Israelites. Still, we must remember that God is steadfast in His word, and we can trust Him completely. As we contemplate God’s promises, let us renew our faith in Him, knowing He will never fail us. As we follow His leadership, He promises to honor our allegiance and obedience. Just like Daniel experienced God’s protection and favor, we too can expect blessings in all areas of our lives. Our decision to continually seek Him is the start of an enriching relationship. This relationship will make everything else pale in comparison.

To walk with God means to relinquish our will to His divine purpose for our lives. This is important even when the path ahead seems uncertain or dubious. We are called to trust in His love and guidance. We are called to obey His commands. We do so knowing that they ultimately converge for our good. As we strive to develop a deeper relationship with God, His favor will guide us. He will lead us to the blessings He has prepared for us. Daniel’s example of steadfast faith reminds us to stay confident, obedient, and surrender to God. Regardless of the challenges we face in life, we can experience God’s goodness and protection. We can do this as we journey with Him. Moses instructed the Israelites to remember what God brought them out of and through. This message is as clear today as then. God wants us to remember. He wants us to not doubt or stray from the path. The Israelites did as they grew impatient about the length of their journey out of the desert. God planned to send them on an eleven-day trip to the Promised Land. In their arrogance, they extended the journey to forty years. They should have remembered how God brought them out of slavery. We should remember how God brought us through our desert experiences.

In conclusion, let us be vigilant about the lessons we can learn from Daniel’s life, faith, and trust in God. Our relationship with God demands trust, obedience, and acceptance that He genuinely desires the best for us. When we surrender our fears, doubts, and ambitions to Him. He ensures that we head in the right direction, labors for our eventual gain, and sculpts us into Christ’s likeness. Our decision to follow God with total faithfulness and obedience guarantees that we are in trustworthy, benevolent hands.

We are called to remember!

Resources: NKJV, Stanley, C. The Principles Bible, p. 195; Generative AI

Scriptures: Bible.com

Photos: Generated with AI

TEMPTATION IS A GATEWAY DRUG

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Temptation will always tap you on the shoulder!

God will always give an escape route to free us from impending temptation. If we ignore the escape route, we will most certainly fall into sin. Recollect a time when you regretted getting involved in something you should not have been involved in. I am certain you can also find the moment you chose to ignore the quiet voice that told you to leave, run, go in another direction, do not enter… The quiet voice was God speaking to you offering an escape route.

Thanks to God’s loving kindness. We received freedom from reaping the horror of permanent sin when He sent his only Son, Jesus, to die on the Cross taking on our sin to give us a way out.

Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

When Christ died on the cross, he took all sin, past, present, and future. We are not bound by eternal sin. And, in the face of temptation and its cohort, sin, God always provides an escape route.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Scriptures About Temptation

Matthew 26:41 – Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Mark 14:38 – Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

James 4:7 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil (sin), and he will flee from you.

James 1:12-16 – 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. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth (metaphorical, and perhaps physical) death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

Hebrews 2:18 – For because He himself (Christ) has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

Ephesians 6:11 – Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes (temptation, sin) of the evil one (often your own desire).

Matthew 4:1-11 – Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But He answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God.”

The Word of God provides the escape route from temptation. Temptation is a carnal want that leads to our sinful nature. Temptation glistens, smiles, seeks illicit things that cause you to feel good in the dark, never in the light. It is the final step into the dark. The escape is most prominent in that moment, turn away, run…

Learning to identify the families of temptation creates an awareness of how sin creeps into your life. Paul defined them in Galatians 5:19-20 (AMP). This is not an exhaustive list.

“Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies-any believe that is against the word of God], envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these.”

Temptation always comes before a fall (carnal desires/sin). Temptation always precedes sin. We should praise God that He established an escape route (through the crucifixion of Christ, the taking on of sin), providing a redemption route (repentance/forgiveness), and saving us when we sin (acting in our carnal nature). To quote Donnie McClurkin’s lyrics, We Fall Down but Get Back Up. How will you apply this study to your life? Will you listen to God’s quiet voice and run or flee, or will you ignore his warning to satisfy your human condition?

This diagram provides a pictorial of your options.

What can we learn from the diagram?

The attack begins with a thought. The thought focuses on the temptation. During this time your mind weighs the choice to listen to God and run from the temptation, or run to the temptation. If you run from the temptation you will know the escape route the Lord has provided. If you choose to run towards the temptation, you will become quickly consumed by the sin and start to ignore the quiet voice of the Lord. But, most people hear bits of His quiet voice, and eventually repent of your sin. God at once responds in love and provides the escape route. There are consequences embedded in the sin itself. Satan will not make it easy to escape, he wants us to suffer during and after we sinned. It is so much better to guard your heart, listen to the Lord’s quiet voice, and seek the escape route that God provides than to fall into the darkness of sin.

Please note, not all sin is attributed to Satan. Our nature is corrupt. It seeks gratification at all costs. Sin offers the things that you crave most. Temptation is a gateway drug tempting you to ignore God.

Scriptures – Bible.com; Diagram – Lisa Blair; Image – lifehopeandtruth.com