Worship
Scripture
At way too young of age my friends and I discovered a stash of inappropriate magazines. The temptation for some red-blooded pre-teens was overwhelming, sending us into a full-fledged investigation. Returning to this stash became a regular activity for us and the repercussions in our minds and spilling into our actions were beginning to sow devastating consequences. Not long after this I desperately decided to give my heart to Jesus. Knowing this was a huge temptation for me, I decided to wage war. Luckily for me, someone had already moved their stash.
But my battle wasn’t finished. Not long after this first tussle with temptation, I started working on the landscaping team of a baseball complex. One day I casually walked into the shop to use the bathroom and sitting on the back of the toilet was a magazine with “PLAYBOY” across the top. Instantly, I was assaulted with past images and affections, drowning in the temptation to open the magazine and look. That was the first time I resisted this form of temptation in my life. I didn’t look. Even today, I can feel a sense of spiritual pride well up in me some twenty-five years later because I decided not to do what had previously gotten me into trouble.
At the very beginning of 1 Kings, we see David nearing the end of his life and being assigned a “beautiful young virgin to care for him.” Remember what happened last time he was in this position? But what did David do this time? 1 Kings 1:4 tells us with intentionality, “The girl was very beautiful, and she looked after the king and took care of him. But the king had no sexual relations with her.”
David didn’t look. In 1 Kings 3, David is recounted as faithful, righteous, and upright in heart. Yes, the same David from 2 Samuel 11. David changed the entire narrative of his life with a simple decision, “I’m not going to fall into this again.”
I don’t know what your temptation is, but I do know this, you can rewrite the narrative. It may have gotten you yesterday, but you can beat it today, and when you do, you’ll build up spiritual strength by the Spirit of God to rewrite your story to one of faithfulness. Stay in the fight! There’s victory ahead.
Prayer
HONOR GOD
John 3:16 NIV
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God has given us new life in Christ. Take a moment and thank Him for this incredible gift!
ASK GOD
John 3:21 NIV
But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Living by truth brings light and sight. Ask God to give you a heart for His truth. What do you need to confess to Him? Where do you need His help?
SUBMIT TO GOD
John 3:18 NIV
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Submit your heart to God today and live free of condemnation!
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord, you are gracious. You’ve given me life. You’ve redeemed my soul, and given me power through the Holy Spirit. Help me to live like you today. In Jesus Name, Amen!