I should have runned away from my brain - overcoming temptation

"I should have runned away from my brain"

Quite the comment right? These are the profound words of my 6 year old right before the good spanking for disobeying (a repeat offense I might add).

The first time she expressed the concept of temptation she said "her head told her to do it" and she said, "no, I'll get in trouble". She told me this conversation went back and forth about 3 times (word for word) and then... "I did it".

We discussed the greater biblical concepts of taking your thoughts captive, running away from sin, that you will always get caught eventually, and the inevitability of consequences (not with all those big words of course - but she got the point).

After that first time, following discussing, and punishment there was sorrow, forgiveness, and restoration.

Just a couple days ago she did the same thing again and as I pulled her aside for "the talk" (the kind she knows comes before a spanking) and she started off with with that great phrase, "I should have runned away from my brain".

Wow... out of the mouth of babes, so easy an adult could get it.

Here are two verses for you to recall the next time you need to tell the devil to flee - or to run away from "your brain".

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

James 1:13-15 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

For your own good and the glory of God - don't forget to "runned away from your brain" if you need to today.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Did the devil invent my video game?

Just a thought...

I just wasted a bit of time with a simple video game. A simple "breakout" style, bounce the ball with a paddle game. It was free and nothing gross or impure, but a couple thoughts bounced into my mind as I played and I thought how much the devil did some of the same tricks.

1. I wasted too much time on something that was meaningless - don't get me wrong there is a time for "down time" and rest (I think even some mindless activitiy is o.k.), but I did spend too much time when you stop and think there is a battle waging in my town with eternal consequences.

2. The game kept offering changes to catch falling coins (of course you often lost your life "the ball" while off in their pursuit not keeping your eye on the ball). What good is it to gain the whole world chasing after material things and loose your soul?

3. At times the game surprised me with multiple "balls", of course I could clear my screen faster, but the most likely result was that in my trying to juggle too many "balls in the air" I would again loose sight of all of them quickly and again loose my life in the midst of all the busyness.

Perhaps in the midst of "playing the game" I am reminded that I, like many believers, face some of the devils favorite schemes...

*living for Jesus is not a game - let's soldier up and get fighting.
*there are times to rest and refresh, but don't be lazy, or waste time on things unimportant to your Commanders orders.
*don't get caught up in the pursuit of chasing things, in the chasing after falling coins you may loose your very life.
*don't juggle too many things and loose sight of what's really important to your mission - don't get lost in the "busyness" or the "business" - our job is to live holy and preach the saving gospel of Jesus Christ to all creation.

If you have fallen into any of these areas (like I confess I have before) confess, repent and turn from them, and jump back into the fray.

Live holy, preach Jesus!