Day 4 - Flee friend, Flee

I went to the store to buy some extra groceries for my fast and as I am walking through the aisles I am seeing mountains of bread, muffins, cakes, and a whole lot of other things I'm staying away from for the next couple of weeks. It was literal torture. All I could think about was how many times I didn't buy sweets when I could eat them. It also never fails that every time I fast, Olive Garden is running some kind of promotional special that I cannot indulge in. Sometimes I would find myself still going during my fast, not to eat pasta, but to eat salad and just be in the same room as the pasta. That sounds so dramatic but I swear it's true. One time, I was so distracted I accidently ate a breadstick...with alfredo sauce. In the middle of my fast. Just like that. Now, I am not the religious type that feels shame every time I make a mistake. We're human. Things happen. But I can't help but think, would I have made the same mistake if I had just stayed home and not given my temptation the time of day? I know my strengths and I know my weaknesses. Turns out Olive Garden breadsticks are number 1 on my weakness list. But I knew this already, yet I still indulged.

Do you ever find yourself in the position where you don't plan to make a bad decision it just sort of happens? Like when you walk into Target with full intentions on only buying toilet paper but for some reason you end up leaving the store with over $100 worth of things. You're supposed to be saving money but who knows how long those sweaters will be on sale, right? I think we've all been there. Or maybe yours is a little bit deeper than that. Like when you finally muster up the courage to cut a guy out of your life who doesn't value you and your purity but then he calls one night just needing a friend to talk to. Suddenly you find yourself the next morning weeping because you thought the last time was truly the last time. You didn't intend on falling, yet it happened anyway.

Listen, I am not here to shame anybody. I am sure we all have our own versions of events in our lives that resemble the statements above. I'm not here to expose you and to make you share every skeleton that lives in your closet. That is between you and Jesus. My only goal today is to get real about the trials of temptation. Something as small as just being in the room with the very thing we struggle with could lead us down a destructive path. For most of us that are fasting during this time, we will find ourselves more vulnerable to said temptations. As I was preparing for today's post I kept wondering why is it so easy to give into our temptations sometimes. Like, we know it's bad. We know that we'll just end up feeling empty and dirty. So, why do we do it? Because sometimes what temptation is offering, looks a little better than what we currently have.

You ever try to cash a bad check? Imagine you receive a check for $100,00 and you go to cash it only to find out there's no money. It's just a piece of paper with no value. Temptation and sin are like that. They get you excited with the idea that what they have to offer is valuable but really it's just a piece of paper with empty promises. Most times you don't even know if a check is bad until you take it to the bank and they tell you. Now you're left there humiliated in front of the bank teller for trying to cash a bad check. Temptation and sin are like that too. They leave you humiliated and left to deal with the consequences of their deception. But when you received the check, you were so hungry for money, that you didn't even think twice before taking it to see if it was real. The enemy is so sneaky and always finds us in our most vulnerable moments. He waits till you're so hungry for provision and opportunity. So hungry for love and acceptance. So hungry to just be seen that you'll settle for the first check that comes along.

Before we go any further I just want to give you something that you can take straight to the bank and cash. God loves you. He has a plan for you and it is good. He calls you wonderful and a masterpiece. He owns a cattle on a thousand hills and can provide for all your needs and above your needs. His word says that you a part of a chosen generation and royal priesthood. There are things that He will do in your life that will exceed any expectation or dream you could've created for yourself. Do not fall into the temptation and sin trap. There is no value there, there is no truth there, and there is no life there. When temptation finds you, the bible says to flee the other way. Literally. Not just in the New Testament but in the Old as well. Flee.

Sometimes it's hard to flee. Sometimes it's hard to say no and deny yourself the pleasures that temptation and sin promise. But the bible says that the same spirit that dwells within Jesus, dwells within in you. That means you are a lot more capable to flee than you think. Stand strong and be courageous. Serve the enemy notice that no more can you be tempted with "bad checks." And if you can't do it alone, then find you some community that will help hold you accountable and fight in prayer with you. Your willingness to walk away from sin doesn't just affect you. It affects everyone attached to you. How do I know this? I’ll show you.

2 Samuel 11 and 12 is the story of David and Bathsheba. David had a long struggle with lust. He had many wives and concubines throughout his reign as the king of Israel. His dealings with Bathsheba resulted in them losing their first son. They soon bore another son by the name of Solomon who goes on to also be a great king. But, because David gave in to his temptations, Solomon was also burdened with a lust problem. He had upwards of 300 wives and 700 concubines. They didn't lose their gifting or their call to be kings(Romans 11:29). But they did pass down this sin from one generation to the next. We know these as generational curses. Your sin doesn't just affect you. Even though the gift is without repentance, it doesn't mean that sin goes without consequence.

Today's post is not one to come down on you and point the finger. I find myself also falling into temptation more times than I would be pleased to admit. This post is about reminding you that you are the daughter of a King. Not just any King but THE King. The devil has nothing on you that God can't set you free from. Now is the time to consecrate yourself to the Father and flee from those temptations. There's a generation relying on you to flee so that they can know that life doesn't always have to be about pain and strongholds, but the there is a God who offers us freedom.

The title of todays post is inspired by the movie Forest Gump. Specifically the part where Forest is running from his bullies and Jenny yell‘s “run forest, run!” That’s my plea with you today in regards to temptation. Flee friend, flee.

Dear Heavenly Father,

God I thank you for this word. It isn't the most fun word but it's the right word. I pray right now if there be anyone of us bound in sin, that you would set us free. Your word says the whom the Son sets free is free indeed. God we don't want to just be free, we want to be free indeed. Help us to hold fast to your teachings. Help us to cling to the truth and not be swayed by the romanticism of lies. I pray God that when temptation comes, we would flee. Physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. We know that there is a purpose greater than us so we submit our weaknesses so that we can be made strong in the process. Help us Holy Spirit to discern these temptations and give us a spirit of boldness to turn away from those things. We thank you God, that you forgive, you restore, you redeem, and you renew. We receive all those things today. In Jesus name, Amen.