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Stand Firm

What a beautiful journey we have been on these past weeks focusing on purifying ourselves and sweetening our spirit. Our eyes have been opened to truth and the changes each one of us has made allowed us to draw closer to the Most High. What an incredible gift. As we come towards the end of this 40-day journey, we have to be intentional in continually fixing our eyes on Jesus so that we may not lose sight.

One of the most challenging parts as we continue to live a life in holiness is the danger of falling back into old patterns. The stronger we get in our walk with the Lord, the more of a threat we become to Satan. We see the warning in 1 Peter 5:8:  Be of sober spirit, be on the alert Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Satan uses every tool he has to mislead us by tempting our flesh with worldliness and sin. We have to remember that even though we are in this world, we are not of it. In John 16:33 Jesus encourages us that in Him we may have peace. These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. Jesus has ALREADY OVERCOME it and with the power of the Holy Spirit, we have the gift of seeing truth and we possess the strength to resist any evil.  Throughout this challenge we have shared the promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13 in order that we each may know that in every situation, we have the opportunity to make the right choice. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. Each one of us has to make a decision on whether we will live for the Lord with all that we have, or allow the world to slowly take us down. But through the trials, God allows us to grow spiritually, and through overcoming them we will one day be considered worthy of the kingdom of God (2 Thessalonians 1:5).

I challenge you to put on our full armor of God, be alert and pray that we will be able to discern between the things of the Lord and the things of world in order to resist evil. God promises those born of Him will overcome the world. We have to stand firm until the end focusing on the reward that awaits us, eternal life with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, forever in the presence of God. We see that promise in the third chapter of Revelation:  He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne (verse 21). What a glorious day it will be!

Today’s Challenge:  Pray that the Lord will continue to convict you of any temptation or sin in your life and that he will give you the strength to overcome them. Write them down and continue to pray that these distractions will no longer keep you from growing in your relationship with the Lord.