Mimi began working at a brothel in her early 20s. The big money began funding a lavish lifestyle, but working nights meant she lost touch with her friends. Soon things began spiraling out of control.
“I fell pregnant to a client,” Mimi told me. “I realized I couldn’t raise a child in that environment, so I left. I married the father, but he couldn’t forget my past so we broke up. I went from having lots of money each week to having little. All my social connections were gone and I felt isolated. That’s when I started contemplating suicide.”
Instead, Mimi cried out to Jesus. “That was only 6 weeks ago,” she said, “and ever since, the depression has gone.” But with money tight, Mimi was feeling tempted to return to her old life. “If the options are raising my child on instant noodles or getting good money where I was, maybe I’ll go back.”
Mimi’s experience reveals the strategy that the evil one, Satan, uses to trap us. First, he exploits our weakness with an enticing offer, then he isolates us from the people we need, and finally he enslaves us.
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray, “Don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13). It’s an important request. All of us are vulnerable to distorted desires (James 1:13-15), the destructive ways of the world (1 John 2:15-17), and the evil one who plots our downfall (1 Peter 5:8-9). But when we pray this prayer, we call our Father in heaven who is greater than those powers (Matthew 6:9). He alone can rescue us.
The Lord’s Prayer is to be prayed both for ourselves and for others. So consider praying this: Don’t let Mimi or me yield to temptation, Lord. Rescue us from the evil one!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Exodus 7:1-14
More:
Read Matthew 26:41 and see why it’s so important to pray to God when we’re in special need of His power and strength.
Next:
When are you most vulnerable to temptation? How can God help you prepare for those moments?
Gary Shultz on February 6, 2016 at 6:23 am
It seems like I’m open for temptation anytime, it’s like I have a sign out there, “Open”. I think a lot about what Mark Hall says in his book, we are not usually tempted with anything we have not loaded in our minds already, that’s a very loose paraphrase. So, with great humility I must account for the Philistines in my life. I was asked not to go there; however, I have allowed the thorns that rip at my mind. All I can do is lean on God’s mercy and grace, thank Him he still offers His love and understand and remember how harmful is sin. Thanks Sheridan
jim spillane on February 6, 2016 at 11:59 am
Gary – just out of curiosity, is that the same Mark Hall who is the leader and vocalist for the contemporary Christian group Casting Crowns?
sandy229 on February 6, 2016 at 2:06 pm
loose paraphrase? Is that like garbage in garbage out? like they used to say. I think you’re probably right though. I never thought of it that way.
gagirllive on February 6, 2016 at 8:36 am
Years ago I heard a preacher use the acronym, H.A.L.T. He said that often times we are more vulnerable to temptation when we’re hungry, angry, lonely, and tired. It’s been true in my life. I can think of a bible story for each of those scenarios, too. But the enemy is more crafty than that. Sometimes he’s gotten to me in more subtle ways…to use the title of a popular Christian song, “It’s a Slow Fade”….you barely saw it coming. It’s those times that I’ve had to look back on and try to find where the breach was made. As with Mimi, it always starts with a lie. (No surprise there…it’s his native tongue.) If I’m not careful, the smallest seed of a lie can grow into something that causes me to get out of step with the Spirit. Thank God, we have an Advocate! Great post today, Sheridan. Thanks
Sheridan Voysey on February 8, 2016 at 7:20 am
That fits my own experience perfectly: I’m most vulnerable when I’m hungry, angry, lonely and tired. Knowing that helps to forearm us. When we’re vulnerable, we can stay away from tempting environments.
sandy229 on February 8, 2016 at 8:30 pm
Yes, this is sooo true. I’ve never heard of that before…H.A.L.T. but I’ve never found it to be more fitting than it was for me today. I know that I do spend a lot more than I should and I could only stop this when I realized I had an addiction to spending money for things I don’t really need but want. I have prayed about this a lot. After reading Sheridan’s reply to what I said and ask me to read yours again, I can honestly say that it’s very true. I should never have gotten angry at my husband for saying something that really was no big deal, I should have cooled off, but I almost made the mistake of buying something I didn’t need just because of something he said that I didn’t like. I started to do that when I read this instead and realized I am going to fall into the same trap again. I chose to read my email and I had these in my email so I read them and realized I was just buying stuff out of anger which leads me into the same sin I keep struggling with. Thanks so much for your comment. I see now the mistake I made and how I was so easily swayed into doing the same thing again I said I wouldn’t do. I’m glad I didn’t mess up this time. I saw that H.A.L.T. and the comment Sheridan made and realized I was doing it again. I just thank God I didn’t go spending money just cuz I was angry. It seems like satan knows exactly what sin you are most vulnerable with. The thing is that the lesson I taught at Sunday School yesterday was about anger so I should have known. Thank you gagirlive and Sheridan for showing me this and for your comments. I truly appreciate it.
sandy229 on February 6, 2016 at 9:37 am
Thanks Sheridan for today’s devotion. I really needed this today. I know that even when we think we have everything we need, that without God, we have nothing. It’s when we let pride sneak in that we fool ourselves into thinking we won’t fall, then BAM….before we know it, we are letting the enemy trick us into thinking we are doing okay when we are not. Then we are back to doing the same old thing we said we have overcome, because we try to do it on our own strength when we know we can’t. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength, so why don’t I ? Why don’t I do things through His strength instead of trying to do it on my own? It’s because I have become lazy again into thinking I can handle anything but then this little voice tells me I am falling into the same old trap of trying to do things my way. I know the only thing I can do is rely on Christ who gave us redemption , I am redeemed by the blood of the lamb.
Sheridan Voysey on February 8, 2016 at 7:24 am
You’re not alone, sandy229. Gagirlive’s comment above is worth re-reading, then planning ahead for those times we’re vulnerable by being ‘hungry, angry, lonely or tired’. Temptation is always a misguided attempt at fulfilling a good need with wrong things.
gshafer11 on February 6, 2016 at 9:58 am
Prayers for Mimi and her child. Please God, keep them in the palm of your hand.
gagirllive on February 6, 2016 at 11:05 am
Amen, gshafer11…I connect my prayer to yours and trust that Mimi will realize that her worse day with Jesus is far better than her best day without Him!
glendap on February 6, 2016 at 12:48 pm
Amen, thank You Lord for protection for Mimi as she walks thus journey with You.
Sheridan Voysey on February 8, 2016 at 7:21 am
Thank you. I spoke to Mimi a few years ago and pray she’s still heading in the right direction.
Gary Shultz on February 6, 2016 at 1:33 pm
Yes Jim, it is. I’m not a super reader; however, this is one of the best contemporary things I have read of late. The Title is the same as the song “Thrive”. There is stuff in there I have to go back and reread, it’s stuff to think about. Thanks for asking, and blessings to you my friend.