Truth or Dare by Sheri Rose Shepherd. Week Eight Reading.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. — James 4:7

You deserve to walk in the truth because you are His beloved child. Don't set yourself up to be robbed of the abundant life your Heavenly Father longs for you to live!

Our King warns us in His Word that there is an enemy after us who is out to kill, steal, and destroy (1 Corinthians 10:13). He also warns us that if we are not careful, we will help him (the devil) accomplish his mission by what we read, watch, and listen to and who we hang out with.

Actually, Proverbs tells us that those who hang with full's will suffer harm. Unfortunately, many times our curiosity causes us to fall away from our conviction and we take the dare of the devil: just as Eve did in the garden when Satan, the serpent, dared her to doubt God and take a bite of the forbidden fruit. No matter how beautiful that apple was or how pleasing it was to the eye, it certainly wasn't worth the price paid for the temporary pleasure. It's time for us to dare to live the life above and beyond what this world offers! We don't have to allow the devil to destroy our values, our minds, or our children.

So with that said, I want to give you a dare, not one that will weaken your will, but a dare that will wake you up to the amazing goodness of God that you may be missing.

I dare you to go on a "Temptation Fast."

This means fasting off anything, any thoughts, or anyone for seven days that tempts you or weakens your will to follow God or causes you to fall away from the life God longs for you to live.

I am believing God that as you lay down your curiosity and the comforts of this world, you will allow God's word to renew your mind and God's way of living to become a reality for you.

You will taste and see that the Lord is good and nothing this world has to offer you will taste better than His blessing, His peace, and His purpose. All of these blessings lived out will bring more pleasure to your soul in a whole new way. A way that not only effects you, but effects the world around you.

God's Letter to You

I believe if The Lord was going to write you a personal letter about battles this life brings it may read like this....

My Forgiven Child,

I have walked with you all the days of your life. I’ve seen your past, and I know your future. I have so many plans I want to walk out with you, but as long as you’re looking back, we cannot move forward together. I will stand by you, even if you choose to stand still the rest of your life. But if you will accept My gift of a new beginning, you will find the new life I have to offer. Looking in a rearview mirror will only remind you of all that has gone wrong, but if you choose to let go of what’s behind and fix your eyes on what’s in front of you, you will be able to move forward. Trust me when I say that there’s nothing you have done or that anyone has done to you that must keep you chained to your past. I sent My Son, Jesus, to break every chain so you could be free. But only you can choose to walk out of the prison of your past and walk into the hope of a new future.

Love,
Your King who has you covered

Treasure of Truth

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. — 1 Corinthians 10:13

Amen! Daughter; Pastor Lashawn (3D) Davis I totally agree with what you said about why we are sometimes tempted. God allows us to be tested by temptation. But He has promised us that he won't allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bare (1Cor.10:13). Lord help us to recognize temptation and give us strength to overcome it and choose Your way instead. When Jesus was lead by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil, showed that Jesus was truly the son of God, able to overcome the devil and his temptations. A person has not shown true obedience if he or she has never had an opportunity to disobey. In ( Deut. 8:2) we read that God lead the children of Israel in the wilderness to humble and test them. God wanted to see whether or not His people would really obey Him. We, Too, will be tested, and because we know that testing will come, we should be alert and ready for it. Remembering that our convictions and only strong if they hold up under pressure. Mother: Pastor Shirley Lee... I love you so much daughter for all your Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding of God's Divine Holy Word.

Pastor LaShawn (3D) Davis said:

Agreeing with my sisters and praying for all of those who are currently struggling thru the temptations that life brings. The bible says that when we are tempted, it's because we are drawn away by our own lusts and enticed. I'm praying that God will change desires, renew mindsets, transform lives, and break and destroy strong holds in the mind. In Jesus name....

Replies

gail weeks January 3, 2014 at 5:46pm

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Now is the time to command and use our authority to demand the enemy to take his hands off our lives. Reap the harvest God promised, and take back what the devil stole. Rejoice today for you should recover it all
.
The old hymn comes to mind "yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin, fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue, look ever to Jesus he will carry you through.
Mother Shirley Lee December 30, 2013 at 5:39pm

Amen Daughter. You are so right. Don't stop praying and don't stop BELIEVING for God's people. Who else will pray if we (believer's) don't. I love you so much. You are my one and only baby girl. My Pastor and my beautiful daughter. Mother.

Shawn Love-Williams said:

I pray and believe this for many people, that they will recognize the God they serve and know that the devil can not trap us in our past by things that we have done, We are forgiven. I walk in the freedom of forgiveness.
Mother Shirley Lee December 30, 2013 at 5:35pm

Now you got Mother in tears daughter. Don't you just love the Lord? Isn't God good? He is so amazing. I encourage you to stay in school we all need to. We are forever learning until we come into the full knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in eternity when we can sit at His feet and sit at the welcome table.

Vanessa Harvell said:

yes I love this. This is why I continue to stay in school I am more hopeful in my walk in God. In tears, Thanks for the letter. fasting from temptation is the best thing any one can to.
Mother Shirley Lee December 30, 2013 at 5:27pm

Amen! Daughter; Pastor Lashawn (3D) Davis I totally agree with what you said about why we are sometimes tempted. God allows us to be tested by temptation. But He has promised us that he won't allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bare (1Cor.10:13). Lord help us to recognize temptation and give us strength to overcome it and choose Your way instead. When Jesus was lead by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil, showed that Jesus was truly the son of God, able to overcome the devil and his temptations. A person has not shown true obedience if he or she has never had an opportunity to disobey. In ( Deut. 8:2) we read that God lead the children of Israel in the wilderness to humble and test them. God wanted to see whether or not His people would really obey Him. We, Too, will be tested, and because we know that testing will come, we should be alert and ready for it. Remembering that our convictions and only strong if they hold up under pressure. Mother: Pastor Shirley Lee... I love you so much daughter for all your Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding of God's Divine Holy Word.

Pastor LaShawn (3D) Davis said:

Agreeing with my sisters and praying for all of those who are currently struggling thru the temptations that life brings. The bible says that when we are tempted, it's because we are drawn away by our own lusts and enticed. I'm praying that God will change desires, renew mindsets, transform lives, and break and destroy strong holds in the mind. In Jesus name....
Mother Shirley Lee December 30, 2013 at 4:59pm

Pastor Shaloria. I am in agreement that I believe that my struggles were the tools used to give me my utmost, trust, faith, and hope of God's ability to bring me out of the grasp of the devils dares. He was there all the time waiting patiently in line for me to resist the temptations and flee to his loving arms of total protection through His son's precious blood that was shed for my sins, dares and my freedom. Thank You Lord for loving me. I love You more than anything. Mother Lee...Love you daughter. Be blessed.

Pastor Aurora (Light) Wilson said:

My struggles empower me because I believe in the promise of Gods word that he will see me through. Many people lose their hope and faith when they are face with life struggles. They focus on what they are going through instead of focusing on who will bring them through. We must walk in faith and believing. People can just look over their past seeing where God brought them from to hold on knowing if God did it once he will do it again.
Mother Shirley Lee December 30, 2013 at 4:39pm

In a cultural filled with moral depravity and sin-inducing pleasures, The Apostle Paul encouraged the Corinthians in (1 Cor.10:13) about temptations. Temptations happens to everyone, so we must not feel as though we have been singled out. I know that others have resisted temptations and so can I. Any temptation can be resisted because I know God will show me a way out. He will aid me in resisting temptation by helping me. But I must recognize those people and situations that give me trouble, and run as fast as I can away from anything I know is wrong, choose to do what is right, and pray for God's help. While seeking friends who love God and can offer help when I am tempted. I am a fast runner having a track coach for a husband, and running from a temptation is my first step on the way to victory, and I will be running away as fast as I can. I am not taking the dare of the devil. I have learned from my dares of the devil and I will look at my past and thank God that it is covered by the blood of JESUS, And use it as a tool to help others not to be trapped in the enemies snares and pits, dared by the devil......Mother: Pastor Shirley Lee
Evangelist Vanessa Harvell December 30, 2013 at 7:21am

yes I love this. This is why I continue to stay in school I am more hopeful in my walk in God. In tears, Thanks for the letter. fasting from temptation is the best thing any one can to.
MichelleSimpson October 5, 2013 at 2:08am

This is the true importance of life and what we need.
Prophetess Kira Hatcher September 29, 2013 at 11:27pm

Sometimes we have to go through the valley in order to get to where God wants us to be. He's trying to get our attention and he will not forsake us ....Look at the children of Egypt, he left them in the wilderness 40 days 40 nights but he did deliver them out...Praise God.....We just have to have the faith and trust him...
Pastor LaShawn (4D) Davis September 27, 2013 at 1:28pm

Agreeing with my sisters and praying for all of those who are currently struggling thru the temptations that life brings. The bible says that when we are tempted, it's because we are drawn away by our own lusts and enticed. I'm praying that God will change desires, renew mindsets, transform lives, and break and destroy strong holds in the mind. In Jesus name....

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