Friday, April 14, 2023
Steadfast
Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13 NLT)
Why is it so hard sometimes to read the Bible? Why is it so difficult to pray? And why is it so tough to make it to church?
Because Satan will stop us. He doesn’t always do this with obvious, demonic things. He uses little distractions in our lives—even things that seem to make sense at the time.
For instance, when you’re getting ready for church, he says, “It’s a beautiful day. Are you sure you want to go and sit in some building? Enjoy the splendors of God’s creation! You can always go next week.”
Then next week comes, and there’s a little drizzle outside. But you just washed your car, and you don’t want to get it wet. So, you sit it out again. The following week you have a little sniffle and think, “I’d better not go to church.”
Or, let’s say you reach for your Bible. The devil says, “You don’t need to read that again, do you? Didn’t you just read it in church four weeks ago? Why do you need to read it again?”
When it comes to prayer, he says, “You don’t need to pray. You prayed before breakfast. That’s good.”
He will do everything he can to keep you away from going to church, reading the Bible, and praying. Why? Because at church you get recharged with God’s people. And when you read the Bible and pray, you strengthen yourself in the Lord.
The devil knows that if he can separate you from God, you will become weak and vulnerable. That way he can pick you off, like a lion going after the weakest and most vulnerable animal in the herd.
We need steely determination that says, “No, I’m going to church. I’m reading the Word of God. I’m spending time in prayer.” Let’s be strong in the Lord.
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