8 / Thursday

And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” —Matthew 4:3

Jesus was clear and firm when He resisted temptation in the wilderness.

Staying clear and firm can be tough. Daily repenting can fall off the radar. And even when it is on the radar, it’s easy to do it for the wrong reasons. Check this out…

Write down the following phrases:

• I turn from my sin because I am afraid of the consequences or the loss of approval from others. (Fear)

• I turn from my sin because I’m a good Christian. I’m just not like that. (Pride)

• I turn from my sin knowing I can’t fix or manage my sin problem. I can only be rescued from it. (True repentance)

Circle the phrase that best describes why you turn.

Understanding that you can’t manage your sin is the beginning of new life for you. Managing your sin is a never ending job and it robs yourself of the power of God’s grace in your life.

Pray:

“God, throw some light on my path! Search my heart and test my anxious thoughts. Shine light on my dark ways. Break the chains of fear. Break the chains of pride. They literally distract me from Your grace. Give me a clear picture of what my life is about, and where it is headed. As I get clear, I will turn from my ways because you reveal them to me!”