THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Lord, this broken world offers people countless life path choices. Because you have given humankind free will, we can choose the path we believe is best suited for us. For Christ-followers, your Holy Spirit, who lives within each believer, guides us on our journey. Scripture assures us of your promise never to leave or forsake your children along the way. We believe you have a unique life path for each believer, allowing each one to decide whether to follow your path or their own.

Sadly, closely following us is the devil and his temptations, becoming unwanted companions that pester believers with false promises that seem too good to be true. “Be the captain of your ship,” the Tempter suggests. “Who knows you better than yourself?” His lie that “we can be equal to God” has not changed since the Garden of Eden and that ugly forbidden fruit incident.

Jesus, your warning concerning temptation to your followers remains relevant today:

“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

Later, the Apostle Paul reminded the struggling Corinthian believers that they were not alone when the Tempter came knocking:

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT).

Lord, just as your Spirit protected believers when tempted in biblical times, your protection has not wavered. You are our safeguard today as well, and you are faithful to show us the way out.

Amen, Jesus.