Ask God To Guard You

The Holy Bible


 
    ^{Post a guard at my mouth, God, set a watch at the door of my lips.
    Don't let me so much as dream of evil or thoughtlessly fall into bad company.
    And these people who only do wrong — don't let them lure me with their sweet talk!}

(The Message – Psalm 141:3-4)

Thoughts:


I believe that I can easily identify with David, but really wish that I could be more like him in taking everything before the Lord in prayer and open, pure, relational conversation. Let me explain, Satan is out to get God's children in every way possible. He is very conniving and knows our weaknesses and exactly how to distract us from our Christian walk. Let's suppose that I am a recovering alcoholic. The biggest warning to a person recovering is that they stay far away from any distraction or temptation that might entice them to take the first drink again. How many times, and how many people still go after these individuals to just join them in the bar, they don't have to drink just sit and socialize with old buddies? Or a former smoker invited into a smoke-filled room? Won't they breathe in enough of that smoke to be tempted into a very large cigarette or cigar? Friends, I believe you should be getting my drift by now. Even when God has caught hold of our lives and rescued us from the pit of sin and destruction, He still allows us to live on this earth and learn to depend on Him when tempted, but I sincerely believe that He expects us to stay way clear of anything that Satan may use to distract us from our heavenly walk. I heard a story about a recovering alcoholic. Every day he had to walk past the bar that he used to purchase his alcohol when he was overtaken by its addiction. After finding God and, with His help, got on the road to recovery, he took a different road home altogether to avoid the temptation. David begged God to place a guard, and to even help distract his dreams to avoid him thoughtlessly falling back into sin. Friends, God wants you to avoid sin. He sacrificed His only Son to provide the means for a better life for you. Why dabble in sin when you have a future that is 'out of this world' waiting in store for you? Please don't be timid in talking with our heavenly Father about things that we see as a trap to ensnare us. And especially don't be timid in asking God to guard you and protect you from those traps that may not be evident to you. Try your very best, with God's help, to live today in light of the bright hope that is ours in heaven! You won't regret it friend, and you have the awesome power of the creator of the universe to help strengthen you! You can do it!

Prayer:


Lord Jesus, thank You for saving me from the depths of sin and the evil so evident on this old earth. Please continue to guard my eyes so that my mind may remain pure, and guard my lips so that my heart might be pure. Please give me the boldness to express the love of God that is shown to me every day in so many ways, so that others might catch a glimpse of your handiwork, and might want to also know You as their personal Savior. There is nothing secret from You, so You are well aware of the temptations that Satan throws at us to entrap us. Please guard us and direct us always in the path of righteousness so that You may continue to use us for Your glory. Thank You for loving Your kids in such awesome ways! May we do our part to make You proud, yet humble enough so that You may complete Your work in us. I ask this in the precious name of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, AMEN!

 
FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Just let me know you are coming by emailing me!