The Devil Made You Do It...not

Most of us have heard of the old line about "the Devil made me do it". Don't think so! Does Satan and his minions try to drive us nuts with intrusive thoughts? Yes, they can try and they do a good job too. But it is up to us if we accept these thoughts and think on them or shut the door to them. It may mean you have to shut the proverbial door to these intrusive thoughts like a million times a day, ( I'm exaggerating, but not really) but the devil cannot make us do anything, he can only try to entice. He is smart, but He is not God and never will be. Remember, Satan can imitate but never create. You have the power to shut the door to these thoughts, it is just hard. Really, really hard, but you can do it and the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Just try for one day and go from there.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, His good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

Instant Replay

Don't get overwhelmed if you feel like the devil is beating down your door. God is on the throne and He is not going anywhere! I always find it odd that I can be compulsive in my negative thoughts, but rarely with positive thoughts. Why is it that I can press replay in my mind about a million times on stupid things that I have done or said? I beat myself up over these things that I have done, even if it has been decades, but the good things? Well, those seem to go out the window. I cannot stress enough the importance of constantly going to God and to the Bible for direction. Even if you don't what to say, even if you don't always understand what you're reading, just go to God. He does not care if you don't always get it, but He does care that you seek Him. Sometimes, just sitting in silence, seeking Him, is the peace you might be needing.

Why am i discouraged? Why am I restless? I trust you, Lord! And I will praise you again because you help me and you are my God.

Psalm 42:11

Quit Looking Back

All of us have pasts. Past relationships, mistakes, bad choices, or even regrets. Regardless of how much you choose to regret your past decisions, there is no going back for a do over. So what can we do? Simply learn from them and if you need to apologize to someone, then do it. Make it right. Then move on. We spend so much time on the should have, could have, would haves of life, that we end up in an endless cycle of misery and regret. There may be earthly consequences of those choices that you have to deal with, but that doesn’t mean that is the end or that you can never move on. You have to move on. God doesn’t want you stuck. While we can’t go back, we can move on. Not limping along, but “with God, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us”. Let God work through you today and quit looking back on yesterday.

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

Romans 8:37