Lead Me Not Into Temptation

Main Scripture: "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:41 (NIV)

 Music to meditate on: In Christ Alone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExnTlIM5QgE&feature=player_detailpage)

My Pastor often encourages us to pray this prayer daily “Lord lead us not into temptation.” When we pray this prayer we are asking God to keep us from being tempted by sin. This prayer is very relevant as the devil (the tempter) is always seeking to ensnare and trap us. The Bible tells us in John 10:10 that “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;” and 1 Peter 5:8 says “the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Even Jesus Christ was tempted; as such He encouraged the disciples in Matthew 26:41 to stay awake and pray that they would not fall into temptation; He also taught them to pray “Lead us not into temptation.”  In the same way ladies, we need to petition the Lord daily, if we pray this way we could avoid quite a bit of testing and trials that the enemy sends our way constantly.

Ladies when you pray “Lead me not into temptation,” you are actually praying, Lord keep me from:

Experimentation – Experimentation involves trying out something to find out more about it. As such, you are asking God to keep you from trying out things that are wrong, that are sinful, that goes against God’s commandments and that goes against God’s perfect will for our lives.

Solicitation – Solicitation means to entice or incite to evil or illegal action. You are asking God to keep you from being enticed to do evil things that will cause you to depart from the correct path, that will mess up your marriage and families and that will cause you to go astray.

Testing – Test means to put under severe strain – oh how stressful it can feel when we are going through trying times. When you pray you are asking God to keep you  from these stressful situations, to spare you from the trials and tribulations that annoys you ever so often, that takes away your peace and causes you  to anger to do evil things.

Lead me not into provocation – Provocation is something that provokes (aggravate), especially by inciting, instigating, angering, or irritating. When you pray you are asking God to keep you from the people or things that will prompt you to become angry, or bring vexation of spirit.

Ladies, when you pray this prayer this morning, pray it knowing that the Lord our father will answer your prayers and lead you in the path of righteousness instead of in the path of temptations. The Lord knows that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak so He will sustain us, keep us and make away out of temptations.

Let’s Pray

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy will be done, Thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven. Father God, keep us from temptations and deliver us from evil as we go to our work, school and play today. Lord remove every trap that the devil will seek to use to cause us to experiment, to solicit, test or provoke us today. Lord your Word tells us that you were wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities and chastised for our peace when you died on the cross, so we stand assured today Lord that temptations will not cause us to loose our peace or fall into sin.

In Jesus Name

Amen

Have a God Filled Day Ladies

Easter Devotional - The Defense Attorney

Main Scripture: “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” 1 John 2:1

Song to meditate on: Here I am to Worship – Tim Hughes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEH50WnMvSQ)

The following is adapted from www.Bible-Knowledge.com.This little story will give you a very good mental view of how Jesus advocates for us as indicated in the scripture. It will also give a view of what we really have as a result of Jesus dying on the cross for all of us and paying the full penalty for all of our sins. I trust you will be blessed.

After living what I felt was a ‘decent’ life, my time on earth came to the end. The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what I thought to be a court house.

The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the

defense table. As I looked around I saw the ‘prosecutor.’ He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me. He definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen.

I sat down and looked to my left and there sat My Attorney, kind and

gentle looking man whose appearance seemed so familiar to me, I felt I

knew Him. The corner door flew open and there appeared the Judge in full flowing robes. He commanded an awesome presence as He moved across the room, I couldn’t take my eyes off of Him.

As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, ‘Let us begin.’ The prosecutor rose and said, ‘My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this man belongs in hell.’ He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole, and in the past when I cheated others. Satan told of other horrible perversions that were once in my life and the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank.

I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t look at anyone, even my own

Attorney, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten

about. As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was

equally upset at My Attorney who sat there silently not offering any

form of defense at all. I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life – couldn’t that at least equal out part of the harm I’d done?

Satan finished with a fury and said, ‘This man belongs in hell, he is

guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who can

prove otherwise.’

When it was His turn, My Attorney first asked if He might approach the

bench. The Judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan, and

beckoned Him to come forward. As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in His full splendor and majesty. I realized why He seemed so familiar; this was Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Savior.

He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, ‘HI, DAD,’ and

then He turned to address the court. ‘Satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned, I won’t deny any of these allegations. And, yes, the wage of sin is death, and this man deserves to be punished.’ Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, ‘However, I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and he has accepted Me as his Savior, so he is Mine.’ My Lord continued with, ‘His name is written in the Book of Life, and no one can snatch him from Me.

‘Satan still does not understand yet. This man is not to be given

justice, but rather mercy.’

As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said,

‘There is nothing else that needs to be done. I’ve done it all..’

The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down. The

following words bellowed from His lips…..

‘This man is free. The penalty for him has already been paid in full.

Case dismissed.’

As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving, ‘I won’t

give up, I will win the next one.’ I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions where to go next, ‘Have you ever lost a case?’

Christ lovingly smiled and said, ‘Everyone that has come to Me and asked

Me to represent them has received the same verdict as you, ~ Paid In

Full.’

Let’s Pray

Thank you Lord for paying the price for our sins and thank you for being an advocate for us even though we might still sin. Thank you for your mercies and grace. I pray that everyone reading this devotional will ask you to represent them as an advocate.

In Jesus Name

Amen

I am Determined

Main Scripture:  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Worship Song: Plant my Feet on Higher Ground - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0_S5YgZ60w

In this life we are going to meet up on obstacles, that’s because that’s how  life is. We see in 1 Thessalonians where Timothy was encouraging the Thessalonians not to be unsettled by trials because we are destined for them. Job 14:1 tells us that a “Man who is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.” (AMP)

Trials come in many forms, but what do we do when the trials come? What do we do when we set our goals and we dream but there is just always something or someone to block it.

Well, we can complain, we can have a pity party or we can press on. I choose to press on and I encourage you all to do the same. I am not saying that you cannot discuss it with your friend but don’t let it stop you from pressing on. The main scripture today affirms that we are more than conquerors (defeaters, victors). It therefore means that, if we are determined to achieve our goals no matter what obstacles are in the way, we can. Denis Waitley, an American motivational speaker and writer said that “determination gives you the resolve to keep going in spite of the roadblocks that lay before you”

Ladies, I don’t know what roadblocks or obstacles are in your way today. Maybe your dream to start a business or a new career might seem distant, your child might be giving you problems, you might be having problems in your relationship or you might be having financial problems. However, when it seems impossible be reminded of Barack Obama’s words “Yes we can”. Tell yourself today ‘I am determined’, be resolved within yourself that whatever you have started will come to pass. God made you a promise and he will see you through, just be determined to hold out to the end even if it means holding on by a thread.

Disappointments will come, discouragement will come, doubts will come and hard times will come but remember that “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man's determination.”(Tommy Lasorda) 

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father, thank you for today. Help us to be resolved in our minds that we can make it with your help.

In Jesus Name

Amen 

Have a God Filled Day Ladies

Crazy Dreams

Scripture Reading:  Genesis12:1-4

 Main Scripture: Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: Gen 12:1-2 (KJV)

Worship Song to meditate on:  No Limits, No Boundaries - Israel and New Breed (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgSH3HwHpzE)

Do you have a dream or an idea that you consider out of this world? Are you afraid to tell others because you are afraid that they might say you are crazy? Have you shared that dream with someone and they told you that it’s impossible?

Today’s scripture tells us about one such man, Abram - A man who must have been considered crazy when he told his family and peers that God spoke to him. God told Abram to come out from among his people and He would make him father of many nations. He heard from a God that no one could see. As such, he must have been considered crazy.

Abram’s family worshipped idols and was used to seeing and touching a physical, tangible God. However, Abram obeyed God and today; we can see the manifestation of many nations through Isaac and Ishmael just because he followed his “crazy dreams” and listened to “the voice” in his head. He trusted God and God kept His promise.

Many great inventors and voyageurs were laughed at or considered crazy when they shared their ideas with others. Guglielmo Marconi was an Italian inventor who was known as the father of long distance radio transmission. He developed Marconi's law and a radio telegraph system. He was taken to a psychopathic hospital by his friends and examined when he announced that he had discovered a principle through which he could send messages through the air, without the aid of wires, or other physical means of communication. (Irshad, Info Barrel Technology)

The problem is that, people usually close their minds to things they can’t see. However, the bible encourages us to live by faith and not by sight. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that “… faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  Mohammad Irshad author of InfoBarrel Technology said that “creativity can be undertaken if you take your mind to limits beyond the ordinary visible extremes.”

Even though the economic situation does not seem favourable, as far as the eyes can see, all roads lead to failure and the people around you are telling you that your ideas are crazy or what you set out to do is impossible. Ladies I am encouraging you today to trust the small voice in your head that tells you that you can do the impossible and that you are great. Believe in yourself, think big, make the first step and take the limits off God. Like, Abraham trust Him, you might have descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky in your loins.

Let’s Pray

Father of all dreams and impossibilities, we thank you for blessing us with great ideas and dreams. We trust you Lord to take the limits off. Cause us to take our minds beyond what we can see in our finances, in our marriages, in all our endeavours and all desires.

In Jesus Name

Amen

Have A God Filled Day Ladies