this is how you're going to overcome the devil's Temptations the devil may not be able to physically kill you so what the devil does instead is attack your mind the serpent didn't force Eve to eat the forbidden fruit instead he attacked her mind the serpent planted seeds of doubt and deceit manipulating her thoughts until she acted on them this is the devil's strategy look at the story of Job God allowed the devil to test job but he did not allow the devil to kill him this shows that the devil operates under God's Authority the devil's
power is limited he can torment he contest but he cannot kill without God's permission what does the devil do instead he attacks our minds hoping to turn us away from God when you struggle with temptation think about it does the devil physically force you into sin does he take control of your hands and lead you to sin no he whispers lies and temptations into your mind he makes you think that you are too weak to resist too flawed to be redeemed when you're tempted by pornography for example the devil doesn't make you do it he
whispers he whispers that it's too hard to resist that just one more time time won't hurt and slowly those Whispers become your reality in the story of the demon possessed man in Mark 5 the man lived among the tombs isolated and tormented he was plagued by a legion of demons but when Jesus appeared everything changed Jesus didn't even need to be close the mere presence of Jesus the shift in the man's Focus drove the demons out his mind shifted from torment to Salvation today many of us are living in our own tombs convinced by the
enemy that we are Beyond hope the devil wants us to stay in these dark places to die spiritually separated from God but just like the demon-possessed man we have a choice we can shift our Focus to Jesus when we set our minds on Jesus Jesus the lies The Whispers The manipulations of the devil lose their power fix your thoughts on Jesus the devil cannot control a mind that is steadfastly focused on God if you feel trapped in a cycle of sin and hopelessness if you feel like you're hiding in a tomb of Despair remember to
shift your focus to Jesus he is your hope your salvation your way out of the darkness run out of that tomb don't let the devil's lies keep you there fix your mind on God you are not destined to die in your sin there is Grace there's Mercy there is redemption waiting for you remember the devil can attack your mind but with your mind focused on Jesus you have the power to overcome it stay strong in faith and let your mind be a fortress of God's truth amen
