be ready for temptation

We continue our series Pre-Decide at The Community Fellowship, and Sunday we talked about how we deal with temptation that comes our way. Based on the fact that we may have good intentions, but we do not always make good decisions.

Our decisions won’t be based on what feels good in the moment but on who you want to be for the rest of your life. Decisions must be based on our values.

1 Corinthians 16:13 NLT

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

Be ready because the enemy is coming. We have to choose to be ready. Jesus told His disciples something very similar that we ought to learn from.

Matthew 26:41 NLT

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. That is a fact for us humans. We must pre-decide that we are going to be ready. Our guard is up. We are watching. We are watching and praying. Why be Ready? Be ready because the devil is coming for you and our enemy has a mission.

John 10:10 NLT

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

God has and is preparing us for such situations. The enemy is coming. We should be ready. Hear what Paul said about our enemy and his plan for our lives…

2 Corinthians 2:9-11 NLT

I wrote to you as I did to test you and see if you would fully comply with my instructions. 10 When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, 11 so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.

Satan can’t get to us if we prepare. The enemy knows how to attack us. He knows our weakness. And the reason we should be prepared is because of the facts we know.

1 Corinthians 10:12 NLT

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.

May we choose to be ready when the enemy comes at us because has more for us. He has life, good life, abundant life for you and for me.

When our values are clear, our decisions easy! But when we are tired or overwhelmed or angry or emotional or discouraged or even if we are

depressed, we must realize at those times we are more vulnerable than ever. Choose and know your value. Hold tight to what you value. It will make a difference.

My decisions will not be based on emotions in the moment but on the values God placed on your heart!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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