Page 41 - First Steps 2023

• Choose to resist the devil.
Yes, there really is an evil entity whose goal is to take as much away
from God as possible—and you’re on the list. Jesus clearly believed in the
devil, so you’d be wise to do the same.

The good news: The power in you because of Jesus is greater than
any other power—including that wielded by the devil. As you draw closer to
God, the influence of the devil fades away.
Consider…

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you” (James 4:7).

• Choose to take your thoughts captive.
That is, accept responsibility for what you think. You can turn off the
channel that’s luring you toward sin. You can quit mulling over some injus-
tice that fuels your bitterness or pain.
Almost always, we can choose to deny temptation a place in our lives.
If you find you can’t flip the switch on a thought, if the wound is too
deep, then get the help of a godly counselor to resolve the issue.
Your goal is this:

“And we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”
(2 Corinthians 10:5).

One way to take your thoughts captive is to give yourself a “time out”
to shift your focus from what’s tempting you to Jesus.
How to do that? Read the “Breathing” illustration on page 41 now.

• Choose to submit to God’s discipline.
You haven’t arrived yet, so expect some help along the way from God,
and some of that help might be the same sort a caring parent gives a
child who’s wandering onto dangerous ground.
View such discipline for what it is: Tough love…but love nonetheless.

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