James 1:12-16
To build a defense against temptation, we must understand how it works. Every sin originates as a thought, often the result of a flaming arrow the Evil One shoots our way (Eph. 6:16). If a believer holds on to the thought, it becomes a fantasy—the chance to imagine what it would be like to pursue that notion without actually doing so. The problem with fantasies is that they can easily become entangled with a person’s emotions. This creates a desire, which brings the believer to the point where a choice must be made: he or she must either consent to the sin or refuse. This process is quite dangerous, as the progression from thought to choice can be almost instantaneous.
Wise believers determine ahead of time to resist temptation—before it enters their consciousness. There are two cornerstones to a good defense: the commitment to obey God, and the recognition that He is in control and has limited what Satan can do (1 Cor. 10:13).
We can further fortify our defense when temptation actually comes. Satan has a way of spotlighting the pleasure of sin until that’s all we see. But with conscious effort, we can retrain our focus to take in the bigger picture: Is this choice a violation of God’s Word? What are the consequences? Am I prepared to pay that price?
No defense against temptation is complete without Scripture and prayer. Every moment spent meditating on the Word and communicating with God builds our faith. As the bulwark around our mind and heart strengthens, we are ever more prepared to douse Satan’s flaming arrows.

Malachi 1:6-7
A son honors his father and sa servant his Lord. Therefore if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am the Lord, where is my fear? says Jehova of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, How have we despsed Your name? You offer defiled food pon My altar,. And you say, How have we defiled you? In that you say, The able of Jehovah is despicable.

1 John 1:8
If we say that we do not have sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

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“He prayed that he might die.” 1Ki 19:4 NKJV

Sometimes after “giving it your all,” you can end up totally drained. Look at Elijah. God used him on Mt. Carmel to call down fire from heaven on the prophets of Baal. Yet he fell apart under Jezebel’s threats. Fleeing for his life, he “sat down under a broom tree…and said, ‘It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life.’” The moment his focus changed from God to the enemy, he became overwhelmed. So God spoke to him again. This time it wasn’t in a spectacular display. Instead, He spoke in a “still small voice” (v. 12 NKJV), drawing him aside to rest and spend time with God. The next time the nation saw Elijah he was spiritually on top again.

So answer this: has your focus shifted from God to all the “stuff you have to do”? If so, you need time out, time alone with God. When He calls you aside to rest, do it! Vic Pentz says, “Nothing fails so totally, as success without God.” The twofold danger in the aftermath of any success is: (1) spending too much time listening to the accolades of others; (2) presuming you have what it takes to succeed on your own. As a result you disconnect from God, Who is the source of your strength. David said, “The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps 27:1). Fearlessness is foolishness, unless it’s based on faith in God.

And one more thought: God sent Elisha to assist Elijah, and he can send the right person to help you too. He knows what to do to get you moving again.

“There is another power within me that is at war with my mind.” Ro 7:23 NLT

Today let’s talk about: The enemy within. Your old nature is like a fifth column, always looking for ways to sabotage you. It’s the door through which Satan enters. You have two natures, an old one and a new one. They are opposite, and they are always on a collision course. A great illustration of this can be found in the birth of Jacob and Esau. “Rebekah became pregnant with twins. But the two children struggled with each other in her womb. So she went to ask the Lord about it. ‘Why is this happening to me?’ she asked. And the Lord told her, ‘The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son’” (Ge 25:21-23 NLT). Paul talks about his “Dr. Jekyll” nature and his “Mr. Hyde” nature. “I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to sin that is still within me” (Ro 7:22-23 NLT). What’s the answer? Starve your old nature and feed your new one! Again Paul writes: “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2Ti 2:4). That means you must: (1) regularly communicate with headquarters through prayer; (2) read God’s Word to be sure you’re obeying your Commanding Officer; (3) keep your spiritual morale high; (4) not get entangled with the wrong people or things.

THE BUZZARD

If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

THE BAT

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place.
If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

THE BUMBLEBEE

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

PEOPLE

In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up! That’s the answer, the escape route and the solution to any problem…
just look up!

Sorrow looks back,
Worry looks around,
But faith looks up!
Live simply,
love generously,
care deeply,
speak kindly, and
trust in the Creator,
who loves us.