The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

—1 John 2:17

Today's Dare

End it now.  Identify every object of lust in your life and remove it.  Single out every lie you've swallowed in pursuing forbidden pleasure and reject it.  Lust cannot be allowed to live in a back bedroom.  It must be killed and destroyed - today - and replaced with the sure promises of God and a heart filled with His perfect love.

I get tempted in a lot of ways lately. I feel myself being attacked. Impure thoughts keep slipping into my mind and I can hear myself thinking, it is ok to feel this way, because you have been betrayed by the person you love most in this world. I know it is a lie and I take it to Christ as soon as I get those feelings or thoughts.

A friend of mine was in trouble a while ago and my husband and I helped them out financially. Her husband got work again, but it didn’t last long and he was out of a job again. They are really struggling, and yesterday she asked again if we will be able to help them. I spoke to my husband about it. With his car that was repaired last week we spend almost all of our saving to get it fixed. I told hubby how much we had left, but that was not even close to what my friend needed to buy food, pay rent etc, but it was everything we had in our savings. I told hubby that I had not even taken into account keeping money aside for our son’s birthday party on Saturday and we will have no extra money for the rest of the month for ourselves. We considered giving her only half of what was left in our savings, but the more we spoke the more I felt pressed to give her everything we had. I prayed about it, and said to my husband I cannot justify keeping money for a party when someone asks for help and do not even have bread and milk in their home. My friend has 3 kids too!

Hubby agreed and we gave them everything we had left in our account. My friend was so grateful. Later the evening when we were at home, my HR manager phoned me to ask if I had received money from the boss. I had not, but said I would check our account. To my surprise, the boss had arranged for money to be paid into our accounts. I looked at my husband with disbelief. I told him that we trusted in God to provide for us, and just look how blessed we are. I transferred more money to my friend, because what we had done earlier would not have been enough to meet all their needs, but even in doing so, we still had enough left for paying for the party and buying our son a gift. My friend kept thanking us over and over! We had really been an answer to their prayers. God is Awesome!

Later when we had our prayer and devotion time, hubby said he wanted to read me something. He read the following:

James 2

Faith and Deeds

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

We spoke for a long time about all our blessings we have received. GOD IS GREAT!

In my own devotion time, I got the following.

1 Timothy 1

The Lord’s Grace to Paul

¹² I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. ¹³ Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. ¹⁴ The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners —of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶ But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. ¹⁷ Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I feel like the richest person in the world, not in money, but in Blessings! Thank you God, to You be the Honour and Glory for ever and ever. Amen!