Friday, June 5, 2015

Tempted to Give Up?

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”   1 Cor. 10:12-13

“The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little.”   -  Thomas Merton

     As we continue on this journey together, I just want to say congratulations!  You’ve done what many know they need but not everybody does... you’ve made time for God today.  Each time you feel the nudge to check out the devotional page here on Facebook... I’m sure you think of many other things you could be doing.  We all know it’s good for us, but sometimes we forget or get sidetracked.  It’s a commitment.  A sacrifice of time and energy.... and you’re worth it.  But all is not easy.  When we dive in to growing in Christ, the enemy ups his attempts to make us quit.  

     That’s where you will face perhaps the biggest foe that has ever challenged you: temptation.  There will be many many things in the coming months and years that will do their best to throw you off your commitment to study God’s word and grow.  In today’s verse, the Apostle Paul writes about those very things.  He says that the temptations we face, while common to everyone, are not unbeatable.  In fact, he says that God will “not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.”  I love that!  No matter what temptation the enemy throws our way to stop.. God will give us “a way out so that [we] can endure”  The devil puts up stop signs, detours, and red lights... and Jesus reminds us that we have His GPS.  He simply re-routes us around the obstacles and keeps us on the road to our God-potential.  


      So the question is... what tempts you to quit?  Does it seem like there’s no hope?  Are you struggling to think you’re worthy enough for God to use you?  Have you tried this type of thing before but think there’s no way you’ll stay with it?  I have some encouragement for you.  We’ve all felt that way from time to time.  Today’s verse tells us that when we have these feelings, God will give us the wisdom, the strength, and the nudge to keep going and escape the temptation.  He wants us to persevere because He loves us so very much.  I’ll be praying that when you feel tempted to stop...or believe what others say about you... or doubt that you can do it... or hear the limiting lies of the devil... that you would remember that you aren’t alone.  God is with you and your Potential Church family is on the journey alongside you.  Let’s go after this together