now when JESUS was tempted, HE was
out in the desert for forty days on a fast before HE started HIS ministry and
HE was tempted at the end of that time by satan.
when satan came and tempted HIM and said, “why don’t YOU take these stones and turn them into bread?” JESUS didn’t say, “i’m going to resist the hunger, resist the hunger, resist the hunger.” no, instead HE turned HIS attention to GOD’s word and to GOD.
divert your attention because whatever gets your attention in the end is going to get you.
what i’m saying is this: don’t try to argue with the devil. you’re always going to lose. listen, when temptation calls and you see it on your caller id, “temptation” don’t even pick up the receiver. just like when you know it’s a sales call you don’t pick up the receiver. when it says “temptation” don’t even pick up the receiver. go do something else.
the more you fight a feeling the more it’s going to control you in the end. but if you divert your attention, if you ignore it, you will weaken it.
now for many one of the triggers for temptation is feelings of inadequacy. you get to the end of the day or the end of a project and it doesn’t work like you want it to and you want to kick yourself like, “that was dumb. that didn’t work.”
you know what i found? i have never felt better about myself by focusing on myself. it’s always when i divert my attention that things change. GOD still has a plan. GOD still has a future. GOD still has a purpose. you change your attention.
and you practice the principle of replacement. romans 12.21 (ncv) talks about that. it says, do not let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good. fill your mind with truth. fill your mind with good thoughts.
the truth is learning new patterns of thinking is not easy. it does not come quickly. but by GOD’s strength it is possible.
just a thought from the front porch…
when satan came and tempted HIM and said, “why don’t YOU take these stones and turn them into bread?” JESUS didn’t say, “i’m going to resist the hunger, resist the hunger, resist the hunger.” no, instead HE turned HIS attention to GOD’s word and to GOD.
divert your attention because whatever gets your attention in the end is going to get you.
what i’m saying is this: don’t try to argue with the devil. you’re always going to lose. listen, when temptation calls and you see it on your caller id, “temptation” don’t even pick up the receiver. just like when you know it’s a sales call you don’t pick up the receiver. when it says “temptation” don’t even pick up the receiver. go do something else.
the more you fight a feeling the more it’s going to control you in the end. but if you divert your attention, if you ignore it, you will weaken it.
now for many one of the triggers for temptation is feelings of inadequacy. you get to the end of the day or the end of a project and it doesn’t work like you want it to and you want to kick yourself like, “that was dumb. that didn’t work.”
you know what i found? i have never felt better about myself by focusing on myself. it’s always when i divert my attention that things change. GOD still has a plan. GOD still has a future. GOD still has a purpose. you change your attention.
and you practice the principle of replacement. romans 12.21 (ncv) talks about that. it says, do not let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good. fill your mind with truth. fill your mind with good thoughts.
the truth is learning new patterns of thinking is not easy. it does not come quickly. but by GOD’s strength it is possible.
just a thought from the front porch…
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