It was another timely week in Settle My Soul …

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“And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.”
(Matthew 6:13, NLT)

Every day we face the evil one.

Every time we face doubt, despair, are weary, want to give up or just want to disobey – we are being tempted by the enemy. I never thought about it this way and am so grateful for the insight the author brings. He is the one who wages war against us and in us. May we not negate this.

“Our enemy would love nothing more that to disrupt, distract, and even destroy the good work God is doing in our lives.”(page 122)

We do not fight this battle alone or in our own strength. He has promised: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3)

Look at those words for they are a call to know Him more deeply each day. It is our knowledge of Him by which He gives us everything we need.

Where are you most tempted right now?

Recognize it and ask Him to give you what you need to overcome and be victorious in the battle.

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“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!”
(1 John 3:1, NLT)

We can so forget this at times, can’t we?

This is what we are as in, we already are. God, by the blood of His Son, has already adopted us and grafted us into His family. We don’t need to work towards this – the work has already been done and stands complete at the Cross.

We often wrestle with whether we love God enough, which then leads us to wonder if He loves us.

It’s a fact: Jesus loves me. Even me. Jesus loves you. Even you.

These are the words and the song, which I will share, that has been in my heart and thoughts for about two weeks now.

Father, how can we ever love you enough? And this is the amazing thing about your love – we can do nothing to earn it. Nothing will take it away. For you are love. Perfect love. Help us to understand this and rest in this today. Amen.

May this one truth hold you today – JESUS LOVES YOU. YES, EVEN YOU!

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“We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.” (Psalm 33:20-21, NLT)

Waiting – if we’re honest, I bet none of us like to wait. We want our answers quickly. Action to have been taken like yesterday.

The authors make such a powerful point – in our dislike of waiting, we often rush ahead of God. I know I have at times.

And it always ends in pain. I wish I had waited to send an email. I wish I had waited before quitting. I wish I had waited instead of going ahead with a decision.

But here is what we need to remind ourselves – God is IN the wait. He is still at work.

He is at work IN us while we are waiting.

The devotional asks: When have you gotten ahead of God’s timing or plan? How have you seen God bless your waiting?

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As we face battles,
we must remind ourselves that Jesus loves us,
and God is working even as we wait.

Photo 1: by Milan Popovic on Unsplash
Photo 2: by ZSun Fu on Unsplash

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