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1 Corinthians 10:13 – 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. (NIV)
My daughter's dog, Pepper, is an escape artist. If there is a way to get outside of the yard, she will discover it — something which she did recently. Twice in two days she escaped the fence. I was charged with the task of finding out just where her secret exit was located.
My granddaughters ran around our fenced half-acre searching diligently for any holes under the wire. They speculated about her leaping over the fence, but I told them just to walk around the inside of the fence and to watch Pepper as she, too, walked and ran around the perimeter. I told them that if they simply watched her, she, herself, would inadvertently reveal her secret to us.
Sure enough, it didn't take Pepper long to slow down at a certain point in the fence, to look quickly and intently at a specific spot, then to move along to catch up with us. As we circled the yard again, I stopped at the main gate, the place that Pepper had been slowing down and checking out. Two rectangular openings had been cut in the fencing that stretched across each side of the gate, so that a person could reach through either side to unhook the chains that fastened the gates closed. Those cut-out rectangles were just big enough for a dog of Pepper's size to squeeze through if she stood on her hind legs and pulled herself up through them. Mystery solved!
As I laughed about how clever she had been in discovering the way out, I was reminded of today's Scripture. Temptations are common to all of us. Depending upon our individual innate weaknesses, however, some are easier to turn from than others. It's those others, though, that can bring about much grief, even the downfall of our reputations, businesses, marriages, or health if we succumb to them.
Therefore, let us learn to be clever escape artists, much like Pepper, that we may not succumb to such temptations. Let us be diligent in seeking the way of escape from them, that God promises to faithfully provide, by humbling ourselves in prayer, admitting our weaknesses, and asking Him to strengthen us not only to want to resist the temptation, but also to give us eyes to see the way of escape, as well as the will to accept and make use of it and thereby to gain victory over any and all temptations this world may set before us.
Prayer: Father God, thank You that we can count on You to provide everything that we need to have victory over the temptations that this world lays before us. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
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Thursday, January 23, 2025 – In Europe — Pray for the Jewish community to be encouraged and feel the love of their non-Jewish Christian friends. Pray that the Holy Spirit would open the hearts and minds of these secular Jews, and for God's leadership in my work.
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Thanks Lynne, blessings to you and your family.
A very good story but how true. Thanks for sharing.
Amen and amen. Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us today! Blessings.
Morning Lynne, I just love how you gain such Biblical knowledge through your Family and furry friends. Another great read. Thanks, and have a Blessed Sunday.
Lynne,
God bless you for this devotional.
I pray God help me to see the way of escape in times of temptation.
Blessings.
Good morning, Lynne
Funny how God used Pepper to solve the mystery.
Just not me, if we stay alert and watch for signs God provides us, we will find the answer, problem solved!!
Have blessed day.
Hi Lynne,
The consequences of not overcoming the temptations which we face in life can affect the rest of our lives both physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We might not think it at the time, but it does come home to affect our lives.
Thank you for sharing this profound message for us.
Blessings.
Hi Lynne,
Your dog stories are always so interesting and, just like our minister this morning who showed us pictures of her dog being so focused on what she was about to do, you always have good lessons. How focused we need to be on Jesus to keep us on the right track.
Thank you.
Blessings.
Many thanks, Lynne, for another of your delightful devotionals where you interweave actions of your pets with things we may do in our lives. You have presented another great analogy reminding us how we need to avoid temptations that can easily lead us astray from the Lord’s direction.
Our Lord has only good plans for us, but we can so easily be led in other ways that do not have a pleasant outcome, therefore, very important that we remain faithful to His guidance. Blessings for these very special writings you always prepare.
That is one smart and persistent dog, Lynne. Our dog has the run of our ranch and in his more youthful days he ran everywhere. We especially were cautious not to let him out at night since he would run off and we have coyotes, etc., around here. Now that he is 14 years old, he doesn’t wander as far but he is still pretty agile and active. Dogs are so very loyal…wish I could be as loyal to God in my activities and be as devoted as he is to his masters!
Thank you, Lynne. You know I think your devotionals are special.
Good morning, Lynne,
Well aren’t you the smart one to figure out Pepper’s thinking. I would not have known what to do. Pepper is very smart and determined.
I am glad that I have God to help me escape the temptations that come my way. I also need God to help me recognize the temptations because I don’t always see them for what they are.
I wonder if Pepper knew how to get back in the same way she got out and then no one would know she had ever escaped. We had a beagle, who loved to escape; however two small children who sometimes left a little opening helped her to go searching for food. Luckily, she wanted to return home as much as she wanted to escape. Thanks for the good memories. Blessings.
Thank you, Lynne. Great application for us to practice.