While spending time with the Lord the other day He spoke to me with a wonderful word picture that I thought I would share with you.
He said that the enemy is always fishing. He puts the worm on the hook and we have to bite it to be caught. Just don’t bite. If we have many compulsions–ungodly desires we bite many worms on hooks because we like them. If we have no taste for worms he can dangle many worms in our water but it won’t make any difference.
Don’t get hooked. Don’t get reeled into the enemy’s boat and taken away. Be consistent with repentance. Keep a short list. Strive to eliminate the hooks in our lives. Loose our taste for worms and feast on the word of God. Don’t take the bait!
This picture made so much sense to me. Long ago when I was quitting smoking the Lord said to me the way I was to quit was to stop putting cigarettes in my mouth and lighting them. I understood. Don’t do the first step and the others won’t follow. Just as simple as don’t take the bait.
While I was thinking about this it reminded me of a scripture; James 1:13-15.
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.
Hmmm …..don’t take the bait.
When I read this I thought this process takes time. First it is conceived, then birthed, and then full grown. There is time in each step to turn back; to repent. Don’t let our sin become full grown. That’s death. At each step it gets a little harder to turn back so do it right in the beginning–stop putting the cigarette in your mouth and lighting it. We can be assured that God isn’t tempting us. He doesn’t do that. He’s the one who shows us the way out.
Thanks for reading my musings. I hope it was as helpful to you as it was to me. Leave a comment if you like.
Be blessed.
Great fruit picture word. This picture word brings lots of life to me. You are very creative in hearing from the Lord I like it! Nice job thanks for the inspiration for the day. Larry
Don’t take the bait. Very wise words. Do you ever wish you had understood this years ago. I do but I can’t change the choices I made, what I can change is the choices I make. Despite all I may feel about myself and my past God still wants me. The bait is still put before me, I try not to bite anymore. If I do I can repent and remember the love of Jesus, his blood washes me clean. From there each time the bait is put before me I have grown more strength to say no.
Thankyou!