Devotions: 1

Genesis 4:7

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it."

Just like eve was tempted in the garden we too are tempted to focus on the one thing we can't have instead of all that God has said yes to. When we focus on the one NO that God puts in place we will desire that one thing and if we merely hear the word but don't obey it we will succumb to the lust of the flesh and the lies of satan. Remember he is like a roaring lion (that's pretty scary when you think about it. We are no match for the enemy. Only Christ in us and by drawing the sword of the Spirit which is His word and prayer can we take our stand) seeking those whom he may devour. He wants to have you all bound up in a stronghold. A stronghold can be a good thing if The Lord is our stronghold but when sin is our stronghold we remain stuck and also like Adam and Eve, we will hide from The Lord in our sin and shame.  Be sure of this the enemy wants you to self-destruct since he can't have the believer in Christ, as we are sealed unto the day of redemption, but mark this he wants us to be living in rebellion and disobedience to God and he wants us to doubt Gods goodness. Friend, remember Gods commands are for our good. Let's focus not only on what we can't do, see, taste or touch, and focus on what God has said yes to in Jesus Christ. If you're like me the second I've ever tried to go on a diet I'm focusing on everything I can't have. I open the refrigerator over and over craving and wanting those 3 bags of carrots to suddenly taste like chocolate pie...and before you know it I'm focused on the wrong thing and I'm then chowing down on everything and could eat my purse! That's the same thing in essence we try for a minute and instead of persevering and focusing on what God says is for our good we fail or fall and give up so easily. Baby steps... Make one right decision after the next and remember that whatever stronghold you are in The Lord is about delivering you but also about you knowing the deliverer. Some of the hardest times of obedience for me have been the most blessed lessons I've learned because I've come to know Him in ways I couldn't have otherwise. Keep you gaze on Him sister!  I beg you from one woman who has been such a fool and had to learn the hard way, don't  let the enemy cause you to self-destruct or drive his flag of victory over you. When you fall, get back up and run to Him (or crawl)...He is faithful. 

Father, thank You that You are for us and every yes and amen has been fulfilled in Christ. Lord give us eyes to see and ears to hear and not focus on what is seen but what is unseen. Fix our gaze on You. May our appetite be one of hunger and thirst for you in this dry and weary land and may we drink deeply from the well that never runs dry. May we understand that our battle is not against flesh and blood and that we have a real enemy crouching at our door wanting to devour us. Consume us with a holy hunger for You and Your word. Cut the chains that so easily bind us and set us free from our own flesh that we may not live as a slave to sin and may sin and satan not master us but Lord, You be our Master. We can do nothing apart from Christ working so powerfully in us. In Jesus Name, amen.