The Tempter


Lots of people profess to believe in Heaven.  Not so many seem to believe in hell.  If we believe in a loving God that watches over us, the flip side of that is one who wishes to derail our train and make trouble for us.

I can tell of many many happenings in my life where the hand of God was upon me, and other times where another force was at work. . . 

I struggled to quit smoking for a year and a half.  I finally broke my addiction at a ladies prayer meeting in the in the jail two weeks before Christmas 2001.  Two inmates prayed for me after I told them of the struggle I was having, and my addiction was gone!  No more withdrawal symptoms, no more anxiety, grouchiness. . .ALL GONE through the power of prayer.

I had been clean for several months, when I went to the University Park Mall, in Mishawaka, Indiana.  I believe it was early March.  There was snow and slush on the ground.  UP Mall has many many acres of parking.  As is my usual habit.  I parked well away from everyone else.

I opened the door of my pickup truck, and there right beside me, on a dry patch in the midst of the slush was an unopened package of Black and Mild cigars. . . the very brand of cigars, I had recently quit using.

There could have been a thousand different things sitting right by the door of the truck, which wouldn't have offered me the temptation that those cigars did. . . The parking lot is HUGE, and by some terrible chance, those cigars were right where I parked. . . Coincidence??  Just Luck??

Not too long afterwards, a beloved friend, had recently overcome a crack addiction.  She had been, like me, clean for a few months.  She lived in a trailer park north of Goshen, Indiana.  She had several small dogs.  One night she let her wee little dogs out to do their business, as was their routine.  When she let them back in, one of her little dogs has a bag of dope in its mouth. . .The same drug, she had so recently had victory overcoming. . . again. . . Coincidence???  Mere luck???

I've heard the same stories time and again in the jail, or from those recently out. . . Walking down the sidewalk, minding your own business, and a crack rock, or bag of dope right in front of you. . . 

I believe in God, and I also believe that there is one who doesn't want me to succeed, but with the power of God I WILL PREVAIL!

1 John 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

I love You my God. . .

You are my Lord. . . 

❤

Dave

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