Psalm 106, Ephesians 2:10, 1 John 2:28-29

Comedian Flip Wilson was famous for always using the phrase, “The Devil made me do it!” And he isn’t the first. After eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, Eve too tried to lay the blame squarely at the feet of Satan. But that excuse didn’t work for her, and it won’t work for us either. Now that’s not to say the Devil isn’t responsible for tempting us to disobey God. But we alone are ultimately responsible for the choices we make.

Disobedience to God refers to the act of deliberately disregarding God's commands or instructions. And far from out of our control, not obeying the Lord is a deliberate choice we make to act contrary to what God has revealed to be true, good, and right. Throughout history the Lord’s people acting in disobedience has been a recurring problem. From the fall of man, the rebellion of the Israelites in the wilderness, the rejection of Jesus by the religious leaders of His time, to the sin we each commit daily.

Sadly, the consequences of disobedience to God can be severe, both in the present and in the eternal sense. Disobedience can lead to spiritual and moral decay, broken relationships, and harmful consequences both for ourselves and others. Worse yet, it can also result in the loss of God's favor and blessings. But thankfully, our God is one of unending grace and mercy. And despite our times of faithlessness, God will forever be faithful in forgiving His people and delivering them from their enemies.

Although God may allow us to face the consequences of our disobedience, when we come before Him in true sorrow for our sins, our Father will never turn us away. For the Lord generously offers His forgiveness and restoration to those who acknowledge their disobedience, repent from their wickedness and seek His forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ. One of the most wonderful gifts God gives us is free will. Which means it might be easy to blame the Devil, but we are each responsible for our own actions, good and bad.

Pause and Reflect - 

Ingratitude and grumbling are the habitual sins committed by Israel. Do you have these in your own life? Why are these habits so destructive?

It was temptations that drew Israel away from her faith in God. What concrete action could you take to prevent the temptations of the world from interfering with your commitment to God?

Let’s Pray Together, 

Our dearest Father in heaven above, hallowed be Thy name. Father we are reminded of the ways in which Your people have sinned and fallen short of Your glory. And we confess that we too have sinned against You and ask for Your forgiveness. Lord, we thank you for your steadfast love and faithfulness, even in the face of our disobedience. And we praise You for Your mercy and compassion, which are new every morning. Father help us to learn from the mistakes of the past and to follow you more faithfully in the present. May we be a people who seek to obey your commands and live according to your will. In Jesus precious name we pray, Amen 

Don't' forget to head over to our Facebook group at, https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenintheword2 to join in on the discussion. Also check out our public Facebook page at, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083156569388 and give us a like!

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, and I pray your day overflows with love and blessings. 💖 Lisa

Psalm 36, Romans 3:9-20, Colossians 1:13-14

Over the last decade, social media has exploded. In fact it’s estimated that around 45% of the world’s population are active on some sort of social media platform. This has caused a rise in the very lucrative business of influencing. Social media influencers are people who are paid to promote products, companies, people, and ideas. Brands love social media influencers because they can create trends and encourage their followers to buy products they promote. And one of the greatest influencers out there is Satan. 

Social media is the Enemy’s playground. Without restriction or consequences, he goes about influencing the world to be wicked, rebellious, and hostile to God. He spreads lies about the joy of worldly living and the need to “keep up with the Joneses.” To find our worth in followers, likes, and shares. And sadly, many Christians fall victim to his deceit. That’s why it’s so important for us to routinely take stock of our lives and ask ourselves if we’re living for instant gratification, or eternal gratification. 

Instant gratification believes its own hype. It promotes doing what feels good in the here and now, regardless of the consequences. Instant gratification listens to the lying whispers of Satan who tells us that we shouldn’t have to wait for what we want. It has no fear of God, for it hardens the heart and blinds the eyes to the judgement awaiting the wicked. Instant gratification speaks nothing but deceit, refuses to do good, and spends its time devising ways to help only itself. And worst of all, instant gratification joyfully walks the path of destruction if it means getting what it wants. 

But eternal gratification desires to do what is pleasing to God. It desires above all else God’s lovingkindness, and rests in His faithfulness. Eternal gratification knows whatever we suffer before God calls us home, could never compare to “drinking our fill of the abundance” of God’s house. And it thirsts to forever drink from the river of “God’s delights.” Eternal gratification recognizes that true, lasting joy can only be found in dwelling in the shadow of God’s wings. With ears guided by the Spirit, it follows a trend that never goes out of style. The trend of living lives for God. Ones that glorify the Lord, striving to please God and not the flesh. And instead of following influencers, eternal gratification influences the world by spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ! 

Who is influencing you? Psalm 36:1-4 tells us that sin deceives the sinner by flattering him so that he actively plans and pursues it. Are you actively pursuing God or the world?

Why is the fear of God the foundation for a holy life? How can we fear the Lord while still experiencing His love? What does fearing the Lord look like to you?

Finally, let’s prayer together -

Our dearest Father in heaven above. Hallowed be Thy name. Father we pray for the strength to seek You and not sin. To spend time with You daily, being influenced alone by the truth of Your Word. Father give us hearts that desire all of the eternal good things in which You have promised Your children. We praise you, Lord, for Your immeasurable lovingkindness and immense love. Your righteous character and goodness never change. Your protective presence is our sweet refuge. Oh Father we thank You that You surround us with safety, goodness, abundance, life, and light. The shadow of Your wings is the shelter that our hearts longs for. Father please know we love You, and we pray for Your protection from the Enemy, our pride, the pull of the world, and the sins that easily entangle us. In Jesus precious name we pray, Amen.

Don't' forget to head over to our Facebook group at, https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenintheword2 to join in on the discussion. Also check out our public Facebook page at, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083156569388 and give us a like!

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, and I pray your day overflows with love and blessings.

 Lisa

Throughout time and throughout the world, the story of Eve is known. Eve was a very special part of God’s creation for she was created to be the ultimate partner and helpmate to Adam. 

“The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:18‬ ‭

Adam and Eve were perfect partners and they were provided an amazing Earthly life. They were given everything they needed in the lush Garden of Eden and they enjoyed an intimate relationship with their Creator. They were loved by their Creator who wanted only the best for them. 

Perhaps when you read of her transgression you may wonder how could she have wanted more? Why did she doubt Her Creator? Why did she desire to be more than she was created to be?   

Whatever the reasons, I imagine that she fully regretted her foolish choices. She was the first to sin and suffer the consequences of sin. Not only was she removed from the Garden and God’s presence there but she also had to watch her sin impact all of mankind. Because of the first sin, we are all born with a sinful nature. As women, we also share in the consequences of being a woman in a fallen world:

“To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”” Genesis‬ ‭3:16‬ 

As disappointed and heartbroken as God was with Eve’s transgression, however, His love for her did not change. Her actions brought spiritual death but God’s love for humanity was so great that He was willing to provide a redemptive plan. Satan may have scored a small victory through tempting Eve but Eve was promised that through her seed, Satan would ultimately be defeated. He warned Satan:

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”” Genesis‬ ‭3:15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

That promise, the promise of a Savior, was made to redeem not only the sin of Adam and Eve but every sin that separates us from God as well. 

“For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans‬ ‭5:19-21‬ ‭

God gave Eve instructions and choices. God gives us instructions and choices as well. Love is not something forced. It is always a choice. Satan knows how to tempt us and he tries to deceive us just as He did Eve in the garden so long ago. Because of our sinful nature we are born enslaved to sin and spiritually dead. But, because of Jesus and His redemptive sacrifice that pays the price of our sins, we share in all the promises that come with accepting Him as our Savior. We all have a chance to one day know the wonder of Heaven and being restored to an eternity spent in the presence of our Creator. 

For Reflection:

Do you sometimes doubt God’s intentions and goodness? 

Do you ever feel like God’s instructions limit you from something you desire?

Do you notice that the consequences of your sins impact the lives of others?

Do you share in the promises of knowing Jesus as your Lord and Redeemer? 

Matthew 4

After being baptized by John, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. The Lord fasted for forty days and nights. Without His disciples and hungry, Jesus was approached by the tempter himself, Satan. Three times the Enemy tried to entice the Lord into disobedience. And three times Jesus overcame the temptation to sin, sending the devil to slither away.

Like me, for many the story of the temptation of Jesus raises some questions. Like, “How could the Lord be tempted if He was truly God?” Or, “Why did Satan even try to beat the Lord if he knew he would only fail?” And finally, “Why did God allow it to happen in the first place?” So to find the answers, I dug into scripture.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.” (John 1:1,14) The Bible teaches that Jesus is both fully man and fully God. And it was the flesh side of the Lord that Satan was targeting. Like us, Jesus felt hunger, loneliness, and hardship. Yet instead of those feelings leading Him to sin, the Lord stood on the Word of God to stop the enemy in His tracks. And when we too stand on God’s Word, we can have that same victory over temptation. For when we resist the devil by turning to God, the devil will run from us. (James 4:7)

So why did the Enemy start a losing battle? I’m reminded of the old saying, “Give the devil his due, but don’t overpay him.” While Satan is many things, the one thing he is not, is God. That means he isn’t omniscient. He doesn’t know the future, nor has he ever. We have the benefit of the Bible, so we know the story from beginning to end. But at the time Satan didn’t. “You said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God.” (Is. 14:13-14) Remember, the devil tried to rise a rebellion against God and was thrown to the earth in judgement. Why wouldn’t his ego allow him to think that he could defeat Jesus? His failed efforts show us how rebelling against the will of God only leads to failure and destruction.

Jesus faced many trials when He walked this earth. So why did God put Him through this one? Like with all of the challenges Jesus overcame, the purpose wasn’t for His benefit but for ours. Hebrews 2:17 tells us, “He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and high priest.” Any temptation we face, Jesus knows. Any pain we suffer, Jesus knows. Any trial we experience, Jesus knows. And because He knows there is no one better to intercede for us before God. I love how Dr. Charles Stanley says, “Jesus left heaven and became a man not only to become a sacrifice for our sins but also to experience what we feel and to know exactly what it’s like to be one of us. That’s what makes Him our perfect representative on the throne of grace.” Oh how very thankful I am for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to Him goes the glory forever and ever!

 Scripture Reading: Revelations 13

Satan has been called many things - Liar, Deceiver, Murderer, the Enemy, the Evil One, even the Antichrist. These are just a few of his names, and not one is ever flattering. He was revealed as the dragon in Revelations 12:17, and now here in chapter thirteen we see something more about his character that I want you to always remember.  

Satan is a counterfeit, who never has an original thought.

He has little to no imagination of his own, and often merely copies what God has already done. He demonstrates this here for us when he decides to create an unholy trinity. 

Satan, as the dragon, will set himself up as the anti-god of the “trinity” and then he recruits two helpers to join him in this war against God’s people. Together they will try to imitate God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

The Beast from the sea (Rev 13:1, 4) will resemble Jesus as the anti-christ. This antichrist will be the political “beast” of vs. 1. He will get his power and position from Satan (vs. 2), and will even suffer a fatal wound and come back to life (vs. 3). Although the anti-christ will deceive many into thinking his power comes from God, it will come from Satan (vs. 2).

The Beast from the earth (Rev 13:11-12) also called the False Prophet (Rev. 16:13, 20:10) will resemble the Holy Spirit. This beast will cause all on the earth to worship the anti-christ (vs. 12), and will also have supernatural powers, that will enable him to call fire down from heaven (vs. 13) and preform other miracles (vs. 14). The beast of the earth/false prophet will order men to create an “image to the beast” (vs. 14). His powers will even give the idol life, and the ability to speak (vs. 15). A one-world religious system will be forced into place, and he will have all that do not worship the anti-christ killed (vs. 15)! He will also demand that all must have a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads in order to buy or sell (vs. 16,17). The mark will have something to do with the number 666 (vs. 18).

I know this all sounds frightening, but thankfully this will all take place at the middle point of the seven years of tribulation. God's people will have already been raptured 31/2 years prior. 

What IS frightening is that if Jesus were to come for us today, these events could only be three and a half years away! Have you thought of that before? If Jesus came back for us today, do you personally know others who will be left to face this unholy trinity?  The Deceiver, this fake and fraud, will be able to deceive many and cause many to worship him rather than turn to a holy God. 

As I thought on this, my mind went back to Deuteronomy, chapter 6 and the Shema: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deut. 6:4-8)

The Shema to be the most important part of the prayer service in Judaism, and its twice-daily recitation as a mitzvah (religious commandment). Also, it is traditional for Jews to say the Shema as their last words, and for parents to teach their children to say it before they go to sleep at night. (Wikipedia)

The chapter goes on to warn us and command us over and over again to study, obey and teach His Word to others throughout, "Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.  Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you;  for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land... Be sure to keep the commands of the Lord your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you.  Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so that it may go well with you..." (Deut 6:13-18)

In light of all we read in Revelations, and knowing that God could see the end just as clearly as He saw the beginning, I now understand God's sense of urgency as He commands us to study, obey and teach others His commands. Can't you?

Blessings,

sue

We’re never told who wrote the book of Job. The Jews tend to believe it was written by Moses, and others think Job was written by Solomon. Most believe Job lived prior to the Law of Moses being written, therefore, this book gives us a glimpse into how life was prior to then.

The Bible is quick to point out three important things about Job:

•  God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. His wisdom is far above anything that we can ever understand. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
  Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9
•  We can count on our faith in Him! If one truly has faith in God, he will remain faithful to God no matter what happens. We may not understand what is happening, but we can trust God because God loves us and knows what is best for us. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”- Romans 8:28
• God has a plan for our life!  For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. – Jeremiah 29:11
• There are times when innocent people suffer in this life along with wicked ones. Natural disasters such as floods and famines affect everybody. Accidents happen. Sickness and especially death will come to everyone. “…for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil and on those who are good, and makes the rain fall on the righteous [those who are morally upright] and the unrighteous [the unrepentant, those who oppose Him].” – Mt 5:45 (AMP)
• Satan has only limited power over us. Only God is Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent.
• Satan may use others to try to discourage us. In Job’s case, Satan used his wife and his three friends. We must seek first and foremost seek His kingdom and His way of doing things. (Mt 6:33)
• Like Job, we to must learn to endure the hardships of life. You know how we call those blessed (happy) who were steadfast [who endured]. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the Lord’s [purpose and how He richly blessed him in the] end, inasmuch as the Lord is full of pity and compassion and tenderness and mercy.”- James 5:11.