The following story is taken from Our Daily Bread magazine, and was originally written by Dave Egner. I think we can all learn a good lesson from it. 
I was fishing quietly on the clear, still waters of Piatt Lake, casting next to a lush weedbed. I watched a large small-mouth bass sneak out of the thick vegetation to investigate. He approached the tempting nightcrawler on the end of my line, stared at it, and backed into the weeds. This happened several times until he spotted the hook. Then he whipped his tail and disappeared into his lair, never to come out again.
Satan dangles temptation, like a fishhook, right in front of us. It looks tasty. It promises gratification. But satan's power ends there. He cannot force us to take the hook. His power stops at the edge of our will--at our decision point. When we are warned by the Holy Spirit and decide to say no, satan can do no more. James says he runs away (James 4:7).
As believers, we can receive great comfort from the words of the apostle Peter, who himself experienced great temptation (Matthew 26:33-35). In later life, he wrote, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion..resist him, standing firm in the faith". (1 Peter 5:8-9)
Just as that big old bass ignored my hook, we can in God's strength successfully resist satan's most enticing tactics!!
Prayer for the day: Father in heaven, thank you for the promise of your help when we are tempted and for the truth that satan's power is limited. Give us the wisdom to recognize temptation and the humility to rely on your spirit for the strength to resist. Amen.
Thought of the day: Respond to the lies of satan, with the truth of God's word.
I was fishing quietly on the clear, still waters of Piatt Lake, casting next to a lush weedbed. I watched a large small-mouth bass sneak out of the thick vegetation to investigate. He approached the tempting nightcrawler on the end of my line, stared at it, and backed into the weeds. This happened several times until he spotted the hook. Then he whipped his tail and disappeared into his lair, never to come out again.
Satan dangles temptation, like a fishhook, right in front of us. It looks tasty. It promises gratification. But satan's power ends there. He cannot force us to take the hook. His power stops at the edge of our will--at our decision point. When we are warned by the Holy Spirit and decide to say no, satan can do no more. James says he runs away (James 4:7).
As believers, we can receive great comfort from the words of the apostle Peter, who himself experienced great temptation (Matthew 26:33-35). In later life, he wrote, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion..resist him, standing firm in the faith". (1 Peter 5:8-9)
Just as that big old bass ignored my hook, we can in God's strength successfully resist satan's most enticing tactics!!
Prayer for the day: Father in heaven, thank you for the promise of your help when we are tempted and for the truth that satan's power is limited. Give us the wisdom to recognize temptation and the humility to rely on your spirit for the strength to resist. Amen.
Thought of the day: Respond to the lies of satan, with the truth of God's word.
