First week of Lent

I did it.  I had a sip of Carey's Mr. Pibb at lunch yesterday.  I gave into the temptation, although Sundays are not included in the 40 days of Lent, I usually don't give in on Sunday.  The Lord went out into the dessert for 40 days with no food and drink and I feel like I should be able to give up soft drinks...I mean seriously?  That brings me to todays devotion.  The "story" for today is "Devil."  Satan is a Hebrew noun meaning adversary, tester, accuser.  In Greek it is "diabolos" which was translated into English as "devil."  We have to remember that God created Satan and Satan turned evil by his own doing.  He was good at one point and turned away from God.  God created us in His image and likeness and because of Adam and Eve's bad choice, we are free to choose between right and wrong or choose between things that are good and things that are evil.

Jesus was tempted by the devil and in His perfection did not fall.  We are often tempted by many "devils" and we unlike Christ often fall.  One thing, however is always certain, we can get up because God's hand, the Lord's strong hold, is on us, is there outstretched waiting for us to grasp it.  He lifts us up each and every time, not matter what we have done to disappoint Him.  It's easy to feel bad, to feel saddened that we've let Him down, but we have to put our complete trust in the idea that He will be merciful and loving and forgiving.  He's slow to to anger, rich in kindness; He is love.

It's true we are tempted and often times by things that are small, but the words I've read are true, the devil knows how to get in deep and find out weaknesses, it's so easy for him just as easy as it is for us to say Yes to the wrong things or to say No to doing what we know is right.  I need to trust myself when making decisions.  I need to trust that no matter what happens as long as I do what God wills for me to do, that true happiness will reign.  Nothing can take away the happiness that God intends for us I know that.  I am human and I know that I wills struggle forever with being obedient, while I'm waiting for my prayers to be answered...waiting for life to happen they way He intended.

I've said it on more than one occasion, I'm not the most patient person in the world, but I know in the end, I'll look back and think whatever it is/was, was worth the wait. Always is.