Tag Archives: temptations

Be Careful What You Pray

14 Friday Jun 2019

Posted by in Psalm 78, Psalms

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Reading: Psalm 78
(Verses 23-31)
Yet he gave a command to the skies above
and opened the doors of the heavens;
he rained down manna for the people to eat,
he gave them the grain of heaven.
Human beings ate the bread of angels;
he sent them all the food they could eat.
He let loose the east wind from the heavens
and by his power made the south wind blow.
He rained meat down on them like dust,
birds like sand on the seashore.
He made them come down inside their camp,
all around their tents.
They ate till they were gorged—
he had given them what they craved.
But before they turned from what they craved,
even while the food was still in their mouths,
God’s anger rose against them;
he put to death the sturdiest among them,
cutting down the young men of Israel (NIV).

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The rotunda of the Saskatchewan Legislature — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
Several years ago I received some wise counsel from a pastor. He said, “Be careful what you pray for. You may get what you want. And that’s not always a good thing.”

What happens when we get exactly what we want? For the answer to that question we should consult with million-dollar lottery winners. Obviously, they got what they wanted when they bought their lottery ticket. Sociologists who do long-term studies on lottery winners will tell you that in some cases winning the “big one” ends in disaster. Some people have managed to fritter away millions in a perpetual party lifestyle that leaves them physically broken and bankrupt in less than five years. Others have maintained their wealth and their health, but they have become socially isolated with family relationships in ruins. Getting what we want and more than we need doesn’t always end well.

In today’s reading from Psalm 78, we learn that despite Israel’s rebellious ways, God gave the people exactly what they wanted and more than they needed. Human beings ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat. 

The greatest temptation we face may not be denying God in the face of poverty, but rather neglecting Him in the midst of wealth. When God gives us the wealth we want, the end result may be the impoverishment of our spirit. Be careful what you pray.

Response: LORD God, help me to find my contentment in you and not in the abundance of my possessions. If your blessings come, help me to be a wise and generous manager that seeks first the Kingdom of God. Amen.

Your Turn: Have your answered prayers led to regrets later on?

Are You Free or a Slave?

06 Friday Jul 2018

Posted by in Bible, Devotionals, God's word, Psalm 119, Psalms

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Reading: Psalm 119
פ Pe
(Verses 129-136)
Your statutes are wonderful;
therefore I obey them.
The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.
I open my mouth and pant,
longing for your commands.
Turn to me and have mercy on me,
as you always do to those who love your name.
Direct my footsteps according to your word;
let no sin rule over me.
Redeem me from human oppression,
that I may obey your precepts.
Make your face shine on your servant
and teach me your decrees.
 Streams of tears flow from my eyes,
for your law is not obeyed (NIV).

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Elk grazing along Policeman Creek, Canmore, Alberta — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
Slavery is distasteful. Distasteful is a rather mild term. Let’s call it what it is—an abomination. It’s difficult these days to find someone who is in favor of slavery. We all seem to be in favor of personal liberty. But are we? 

While trumpeting our personal liberty, are we letting ourselves become shackled by crippling habits? We seem quite willing—maybe even eager—to let sin enslave us.

James, the brother of our Lord, provides us with this warning: When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death (James 1:13-15).

Clearly sin has consequences. Yielding to temptations takes us down a dark path. We may think we are in control, but before long we discover we have a new master. Our sinful nature takes over. Evil desires are in control. If we persist in that pattern of behavior, the end result is a seared conscious and death.

We need a Savior to set us free. The psalmist expresses that earnest desire: Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. 

Is that your prayer and the desire of your heart?

Response: Father God, I need you to liberate me from every stronghold of sin. Establish within me a clean heart. Help my thoughts and actions to be pure. Lord Jesus, be my master. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you yielded control to sinful habits? Take some time to go to the cross of Jesus.

The Faith of a Child

18 Thursday Jan 2018

Posted by in Bible, Devotionals, Psalm 78, Psalms

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Reading:                                      Psalm 78

(Verses 17-22)
But they continued to sin against him,
rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High.
They willfully put God to the test
by demanding the food they craved.
They spoke against God;
they said, “Can God really
spread a table in the wilderness?
True, he struck the rock,
and water gushed out,
streams flowed abundantly,
but can he also give us bread?
Can he supply meat for his people?”
When the Lord heard them, he was furious;
his fire broke out against Jacob,
and his wrath rose against Israel,
for they did not believe in God
or trust in his deliverance (NIV).

Reflection
Psalm 78 is largely an indictment against the people of Israel for their lack of faith and their rebellious ways. As the psalmist says, “They willfully put God to the test.”

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Chateau Montebello, Montebello, QB — photo by David Kitz

As a child I recall reading the entire book of Exodus and thinking to myself, “Wow, these people sure are dumb. How could they see God’s amazing miracles and then a few days later grumble, complain and doubt that the LORD would help them? These people are real losers!”

Then I grew up and had a family of my own. At times I saw amazing miracles and God’s supernatural provision. But guess what? When the next big difficulty arose, I found myself doubting that God would come through. I complained about the difficulty I was in and acted just like the people of Israel in the wilderness.

Oops! I thought I was different. I thought I was smarter than those spiritual dullards in the Old Testament. In reality my grownup faith was much weaker than my childhood faith. When real testing and temptation came, I was and still am, as susceptible to unbelief as any of the wandering Israelites in the wilderness. Faith is a gift from God—a wonder-filled gift that carries us through the hard times.

The indictment against Israel is that they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance. Do I truly believe in God and trust in his deliverance? Is my faith more than a creedal statement? Does it have legs and wings to carry me through the toughest situation? Often I am more like the rebellious children of Israel than I would like to admit. How about you?

Response: LORD God, I humbly ask you for the gift of faith—faith to sustain me through the tough times ahead. You are my help, my salvation and my deliverer. I praise you for your faithfulness. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you have grown-up faith or childlike faith? Which is better?

Thoughts of a Busy Mind

28 Tuesday Nov 2017

Posted by in Bible, Devotionals, Psalm 63, Psalms

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Reading:                                      Psalm 63

(Verses 6-11)
On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.
Those who want to kill me will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.
They will be given over to the sword
and become food for jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by God will glory in him,
while the mouths of liars will be silenced (NIV).

Reflection
Where do your thoughts turn when you are at rest? Where our mind goes in idle moments, tells us a lot about ourselves. Are you off in the realm of sports, politics or family events? Does your mind graze on pornography or steamy romance novels? Are you plotting your plans for the week or the weekend?

Donald Adam

Setting sun near MacNutt, SK — photo courtesy of Donald Adam

My mind—your mind—is a busy place. And if it’s not occupied with things at hand, it will invent thoughts, opinions and worries to keep self-engaged.

Where did David’s mind go when he was at rest? Here in Psalm 63 we find the answer. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

Rather than worry about the schemes being hatched by his enemies, King David’s mind was focused on the LORD. We may mistakenly believe that being king meant dwelling in a worry-free secure zone. Nothing could be further from the truth. Kings in Old Testament times were frequently assassinated. Rebellions and backroom treachery were common. Metaphorically, the king walked about with a bullseye target on his back.

But are today’s followers of the Lord Jesus any different? The true and faithful follower of Jesus is engaged in spiritual warfare. The sons and daughters of the King are target practice for the demons of hell. Temptation comes in a variety of ways. Sometimes it wears a pretty dress. At other times it offers a fast buck or a thrilling escape. Or does temptation simply dazzle and distract us into soul deadening spiritual apathy?

Now here is a thought to consider: Turn your mind to the Lord Jesus through the watches of the night, because you can rest assured he’s watching you.

Response: LORD Jesus, I want my mind to find rest in you. I know that my sins are forgiven and your love for me was proven on the cross. You lived for me; you died for me. You love me. Oh, what joy that thought brings! Amen.

Your Turn: Where does your mind go when you are at rest? Does the Holy Spirit come to change your thoughts?

Built on a Rock

23 Thursday Nov 2017

Posted by in Bible, Devotionals, Psalm 62, Psalms

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Reading:                                        Psalm 62

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
Surely they intend to topple me from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.
Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge (NIV).

Reflection
Jesus concluded his Sermon on the Mount by telling the parable of the wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24-29). One man built his house on sand, while the other built his home on the rock. Only the house built on the rock was able to withstand the floods and storms of life. Having Jesus and his teaching at the very foundation of your life will help you withstand all the hardship and temptation the world and the devil can throw at you.

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First snow of the season, Ottawa, ON — photo by David Kitz

Did Jesus use Psalm 62 as his story prompter as he told the parable of the wise and foolish builders? Until we pass over to eternity and can question Jesus personally, we cannot know the answer with absolute certainty; nevertheless, there is a striking parallel between Jesus’ built-on-a-rock parable and Psalm 62.

According to this psalm, David found his rest in God. God was his rock. His life rested secure on that eternal foundation. Here is David’s confession: Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

To David’s declaration of allegiance to the Rock, Jesus adds this thought. Our connection to the Rock is established as we put his words—Jesus’ words—into practice. What is your life resting on?

Response: LORD God, you are my mighty rock, my refuge. In a troubled world you are a sure foundation. My soul finds rest in you. Help me put into practice the words of life—the words of Jesus. Amen.

Your Turn: In a changing world has the LORD become your rock of stability? Are you heeding this admonition from James? Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says (James 1:22).

I wish American followers of this post a blessed Thanksgiving Day. May your home rest secure on Jesus our mighty rock and refuge.

A Double-Edged Sword

18 Thursday May 2017

Posted by in Psalm 149, Psalms

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Reading:                                          Psalm 149

(Verses 1-5)
May the praise of God be in their mouths
and a double-edged sword in their hands,
to inflict vengeance on the nations
and punishment on the peoples,
to bind their kings with fetters,
their nobles with shackles of iron,
to carry out the sentence written against them—
this is the glory of all his faithful people.
Praise the LORD (NIV).

Reflection

In society today there are moves afoot to rewrite history. Old monuments are being torn down or neglected. Places and buildings are being renamed because past victories or policies are now seen as oppressive or unjust. Many of the heroes of the past have lost their luster. In many cases there is sound reasoning that goes into justifying this change. Let’s face it; not every conquest was undertaken with pure motives. Not every government policy in the past was without racial or gender bias.

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Statue of King David, the shepherd king, Jerusalem — photo by Lois Morrow

But are we wise when we judge people from a different era with the moral positions and perspectives of today? Do we carry our own set of biases that color our view of history? Of course we do.

We encounter the same issues when we look back at Old Testament history. It’s difficult for New Testament believers to justify Old Testament vengeance, genocide and slaughter. And yes, there’s plenty of that recorded in our Bibles. Today’s reading from Psalm 149 touches on this very point. The psalmist urges the infliction of vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron. As followers of a gentle Jesus, who taught us to love our enemies, how are we to interpret and apply this call to action?

First, let’s realize that we are living under a new and better covenant with Jesus as our Lord and Savior. When he was arrested, Jesus told Peter to put away his sword. We do well when we heed that advice. The eager warmongers among us often need to take a chill pill. Jesus showed no tendencies to war.

But we do have a battle to fight, and we urgently need a double-edged sword. St. Paul calls it the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17b). How effective are you in handling the word of God? How effective are you in battling the spiritual forces and daily temptations that are arrayed against you? With the praises of God in your mouth, and the sword of the Spirit in your hand, are you propelling your way to victory in the daily grind of life? Are the joy and peace of God reigning in your life?

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him (James 1:12).

Response: LORD God, I want to grow in my love for your word. Help me to use it wisely and deftly to the advance of your Kingdom. Lord Jesus, help me gain victory over spiritual forces that oppose me. Amen.

Your Turn: Are you developing competence in using the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God?

We Will Triumph

28 Thursday Apr 2016

Posted by in Psalms, Thursday's Thought

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With God we will triumph; he’s the one who will trample our adversaries (Psalm 60:10, CEV).

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Early spring cycling triumph — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is victory.

Who are my adversaries? I think that’s a very important question to ask before I head off to battle. If I don’t know who or what I am fighting, how can I properly prepare? How can I advance against my enemies, when I know nothing about them? I might meet up with my foes and join their side by mistake.

I think many Christian believers find themselves in this situation. In many cases our enemies are not physical humans, but temptations, ideas and philosophies that draw us away from God. The first enemy that must be defeated often resides within. Wrong thinking and crippling habits keep us from achieving God’s will.

Our first concern needs to be our relationship with the Lord.

With God we will triumph; he’s the one who will trample our adversaries (Psalm 60:10, CEV).

The first fight we must win is against the enemy within. When we give the Lord Jesus full control, victory is sure to follow. He’s the one who will trample our adversaries. 

Response: LORD God, help me to identify the adversaries that war against my soul. I want to live in the victory you already won for me through the cross and the resurrection. Amen.

Your Turn: Are there thoughts and habits you need to overcome? Have you taken them to the Lord?

I Think of You

06 Tuesday Oct 2015

Posted by in Devotionals, Psalms

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Reading:                                            Psalm 63

(Verses 6-11)

On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.

Those who want to kill me will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.
They will be given over to the sword
and become food for jackals.

But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by God will glory in him,
while the mouths of liars will be silenced (NIV).

Reflection

Where do your thoughts turn when you are at rest? Where our mind goes in idle moments, tells us a lot about ourselves. Are you off in the realm of sports, politics or family events? Does your mind graze on pornography or steamy romance novels? Are you plotting your plans for the week or the weekend?

Gatineau Park, Quebec --David Kitz

Gatineau Park, Quebec –David Kitz

My mind—your mind—is a busy place. And if it’s not occupied with things at hand, it will invent thoughts, opinions and worries to keep self-engaged.

Where did David’s mind go when he was at rest? Here in Psalm 63 we find the answer. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

Rather than worry about the schemes being hatched by his enemies, King David’s mind was focused on the LORD. We may mistakenly believe that being king meant dwelling in a worry-free secure zone. Nothing could be further from the truth. Kings in Old Testament times were frequently assassinated. Rebellions and backroom treachery were common. Metaphorically, the king walked about with a bulls-eye target on his back.

But are today’s followers of the Lord Jesus any different? The true and faithful follower of Jesus is engaged in spiritual warfare. The sons and daughters of the King are target practice for the demons of hell. Temptation comes in a variety of ways. Sometimes it wears a pretty dress. At other times it offers a fast buck or a thrilling escape. Or does temptation simply dazzle and distract us into soul deadening apathy?

Turn your mind to the Lord Jesus through the watches of the night, because you can rest assured he’s watching you.

Response: LORD Jesus, I want my mind to find rest in you. I know that my sins are forgiven and your love for me was proven on the cross. You love me. Oh, what joy that brings! Amen.

Your Turn: Where does your mind go when you are at rest? Does the Holy Spirit come to change your thoughts?