‘Wine
is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; whoever is led astray by it is not
wise’ (Proverbs 20:1). Lord, teach us the truth of these words – before
it’s too late! Teach us that there is a better way than the way of
drunkenness. It is the way of being filled with the Holy Spirit: ‘Don’t
get drunk on wine, which leads to wild living. Instead, be filled with
the Spirit’ (Ephesians 5:18). Help us not to ‘live according to the
flesh.’ You’re calling us to ‘live according to the Spirit.’ You warn us
against making the wrong choice: ‘To set the mind on the flesh is
death.’ You show us the way of blessing: ‘To set the mind on the Spirit
is life and peace.’ You say to us, ‘Set your minds on things that are
above, not on things that are on earth.’ Help us, Lord, to turn from
‘the works of the flesh’ and seek ‘the fruit of the Spirit’ (Romans
8:5-6; Colossians 3:2; Galatians 5:19-23).
We thank You, Lord, that our determined enemy - Satan - is Your defeated enemy. To us, the devil seems so powerful. In Your eyes, He is defeated - defeated by Jesus, our crucified Saviour and risen Lord. Jesus has triumphed over Satan. He has won the victory for us (1 John 3:8; Hebrews 2:14-15). Lord, Your Word says, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 5:7). Will he really flee from us? He flees from Jesus - but, surely, not from us? Have we not forgotten something? - Jesus won the victory for us. He gives His victory to us. Help us to resist the devil - in the victorious Name of Jesus. He will flee from us. Why? Because Jesus is Lord over Satan. It's not us he's fleeing from. It's Jesus. When the devil comes 'knocking on our door', help us to send Jesus to the door - and send him packing!
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