Stop Playing With Fire

When you play with fire, you get burned.

And when you play with temptation, you become weary.

When you are weary, worn down, and spiritually tired, it becomes easier to give in than to use what strength you have left to flee, resist, or surrender again to God.

That is how we can become boxed in without realizing it.

Temptation Is Not Always Obvious

It is not only lust or sexual immorality.It is not only consumption habits, addictions, appetites, or the lure to break discipline.

Temptation also comes as lies.

Thoughts that oppose what God has spoken.

The Lies That War Against God’s Image in You

The voices in our minds that say:

I am not enough.I am a victim.I will never amount to anything.I never win.I am powerless.I am dumb.I am inadequate.

Those thoughts are not harmless. They are an assault against us.

And more than that, they are an assault against God, because we are made in His image.

Anxiety, fear, striving, despair — these too can become temptations of a different kind. They are meant to undermine our peace, security, gratitude, and trust in God.

They come to weaken our confidence in His promises.

His promise to provide.His promise to keep us.His promise to be with us.

The enemy of our souls is the enemy of God. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But he cannot steal from God. He cannot kill God. He cannot destroy God.

He already tried when he thought he had orchestrated the death of Jesus on the cross.

And he failed miserably.

So instead, he goes after us — God’s beloved ones.

You and me.

Think about it. When someone you love is hurt — your child, your spouse, your parent, your friend — how do you feel?

Our Father feels deeply over us too.

Beloveds, it is time to stop playing with fire.

Samson’s Warning

Samson played with Delilah.He played with pride.He played with sluggishness.He thought he could handle what was slowly wearing him down.

But Scripture tells us that Delilah pressed him day after day until his soul was vexed to death. Worn down, he finally revealed the secret he had been entrusted with by God.

Then he was lulled to sleep.

His hair was cut.His strength left him.He was captured.His eyes were gouged out.

Samson’s story is a warning to all of us.

When we surrender our strength, our anointing, and our connection with God, we lose more than freedom.

We lose sight.We lose discernment.

Draw Near, Surrender, and Stand

In this season, God is calling us to draw closer to Him.

When we humble ourselves, flee from strange fire, surrender to God, and walk in obedience to whatever He has asked of us, the devil has nothing left to use.

And so it is written:

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”— James 4:7

The trial you are in is only meant to test and strengthen your trust in God.

His presence is your treasure.

He will keep you.

See Him standing with open arms.See the angels He has assigned to you to guard you and war on your behalf.

You know the truth.You know the Word.

The battle belongs to the Lord.

This is your invitation to live in His truth, to put on the full armor of God, and having done all, to stand.

Heaven surrounds you.

His banner over you is love.

You cannot fail when you are surrendered to Him.