Father, today I feel pulled to plead with You for strength for those who are overwhelmed with an addiction. Tears brim so easily as I think of my personal family – where alcohol has destroyed so much. I want to be angry with You – for repeatedly placing temptation before us – until I remember that I’m falling for an erroneous teaching. Your Word in James, Chapter 1, says that “each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death.” I pray, specifically, that these temptations become more bold & obvious to us – so that it can be clearly & quickly realized the-evil-one is the author. That it be such a “distaste” to our bodies that we will not waver from finding the “escape route” You promise us in 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” I beg You, Lord, to please intercede for those who need strength to STAND UP. Break whatever it is that hinders them from coming to & relying on You.
There is such HOPE in YOU – keep me from “being deceived…”. Help me to remember that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:16-17) Strengthen me, O Lord, to persevere in prayer both for my family & others. May I join with my fellow brothers & sisters in Christ to be Your hands and feet in this dark world. Amen
Roberts' Farm Blog 
I confided in Mike this morning that I am anxious about God not hearing my desperate plea above – and I rambled off some ideas I could try (yes, to “help” God out, lol!) He lovingly looked at me and said, “I think you are trying to BE God…” Yep. Why do I always do that??? Then we came downstairs for our morning devotion, where we read Mark 15:42-47. God spoke directly to me through v. 47: “Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where He was laid.” Seems like a pretty uneventful verse until I read a little more about it in my Life Application Study Bible: “These women could do very little. They couldn’t speak before the Sanhedrin in Jesus’ defense; they couldn’t appeal to Pilate; they couldn’t stand against the crowds; they couldn’t overpower the Roman guards. But they did what they could. They stayed at the cross when the disciples had fled; they followed Jesus’ body to its tomb; and they prepared spices for his body. Because these women used the opportunities they had, they were the first to witness the resurrection. God blessed their devotion and diligence. As believers, we should take advantage of the opportunities we have and do what we CAN for Christ, instead of worrying about what we CANNOT do.” WOW! 🙂 Thank You, Lord, for this insight – may I imitate the walk of these two Marys. I accept WHO YOU ARE and want to work for You as YOU SEE FIT. Amen.
LikeLike