Beloved of the Father, in a world that glorifies people, places, and things, I implore you to find your validation in Christ.  Satan uses the things of this world to allure us to his way of reasoning so that we will live in opposition to the desire of God for our lives.  The pull is strong, but we must resist the efforts of the tempter and the lusts of our flesh.  How can we as believers overcome these negative forces that work on our souls?  We must maintain our awareness that although lost and carnal-minded individuals want us to live for them, we must continually fight for the mind of Christ, as those redeemed from the slave market of sin.  Children, if we do not learn to fight, then the ‘old man’ will have us behaving in ways that will have our conscience defiled before God.  Instead of yearning for Jesus when we are going through severe testing in the spiritual life, he will have us yearning for the immoral comforts of man.  Married and single saints alike need to understand that we do not need illicit sexual intercourse or unspiritual intimacy with man/woman to validate our self-worth.  Christians do not need the ministry that comes from beneath.  All of our help comes from the Lord. 

Devotional reading for this week:  2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;  (KJV)

1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.  (KJV)

Devotional reflection for this week:  What are some circumstances that Satan uses to get believers to form ill-advised relationships?  Why should Christians be careful with the relationships they form or already have when going through severe emotional turmoil?  Why should Christians pause and examine themselves according to the scriptures if they find themselves depending on what the world says about them?

Devotional prayer:  Gracious Heavenly Father, fortify me so that I find my validation in You always.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen.

May Jesus bless you as you honestly think through the questions raised in the devotional reflection for this week.

Love,

Pastor Patrick Neil Addison, Sr.