Avoid At All Costs...

The Conversation...

I come before You in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ, and I praise you and thank you that You Lord Jesus have risen and You are among the living, not the dead, and You are now my High Priest who in all points was tempted as I am, and yet was without sin.  I thank you that even in the midst of the storm You are the Mighty One who gives me peace.  I thank you for all the examples in Your Word that shows me that You are faithful to deliver me out of all my troubles.  I thank you that You care for me and that I can cast all my cares upon You.  So today, Lord Jesus, I lay all my cares, all my worries, all things I cannot change on Your altar.  I lay my spouse on Your altar.  I lay my children on Your altar.  I lay my job and finances on Your altar.  I lay my parents and siblings on Your altar.  I lay my health and the health of my loved ones on Your altar.  I give it all into Your capable hands, Lord.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.

The Affirmation...

Today, I will avoid temptation.
​Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.
(Proverbs 4:14-15 NIV)

The Resource... The Word !!

Avoiding Temptation
Bible Reading of the Day: Read Proverbs 4:14-15.
Verse of the Day: “Run from all these evil things, and follow what is right and good” (1 Timothy 6:11).

“Mommy,” Alyssa said, “you look beautiful!”

Mom smiled; she had just gotten her hair done at the beauty parlor. “Thank you, Alyssa,” she said. Mom took Alyssa’s hand as they left the beauty parlor together.

“Where are we going now, Mommy?” she asked.

“Home,” Mom answered.

“But our car’s that way,” Alyssa said, pointing her finger behind her.

“I know, sweetheart.” Mom stopped at the crosswalk and waited for the light to change, then crossed the street and turned back down the street toward the car.

“Why are we walking on this side of the street, Mommy?”

Mom sighed and shook her head. “You’re just full of questions today, aren’t you?” she said, smiling. “You know Mommy’s on a diet, don’t you?”

Alyssa nodded.

“And sometimes I get tempted to eat things I shouldn’t eat.”

Again Alyssa nodded. Mom pointed to a building a few doors down from the beauty parlor. “Do you see that building?” she asked.

“The one with the picture of the donut on the window?” Alyssa asked.

“Yes, that’s the one,” Mom answered, chuckling. “Well, that’s a bakery, and there’s all sorts of delicious donuts and crullers and pastries in there.” She licked her lips.

“Can we buy some?” Alyssa asked innocently.

“No!” Mom said. “That’s why we’re walking on this side of the street, Alyssa. I’m trying to avoid the temptation to walk in there and buy everything I see.”

“Oh,” Alyssa said. “But can’t you just walk by the donut store?”

“Sometimes I can, but other times I smell those donuts and I can’t resist.”

“So you walk on this side of the street so you won’t eat donuts?”

“Right,” Mom said. “I’m trying to steer clear of the temptation. If I don’t go near the donut store, I don’t have to fight the temptation to go in!”

“Oh,” Alyssa said again. “You’re not tempted to eat all those good donuts in that store now, are you, Mommy?”

Mom shook her head in a gesture of hopelessness. “If you keep talking about donuts, you’re going to make me march right over there and gobble them all up right now!” she said. “Can we talk about something else, please?”

TO DISCUSS: An important step in making right choices is to avoid tempting circumstances. How did Mom avoid temptation in the story above? How did Alyssa make it hard for her? What are some temptations you face often? Can you avoid those things before you’re even tempted? How?

TO PRAY: “Lord, please help us avoid the things that tempt us to sin.”

​© 2019 Josh McDowell Ministry. All rights reserved. No part of these Materials may be changed in any way or reproduced in any form without written permission from Josh McDowell Ministry, 2001 West Plano Parkway, Suite 2400, Plano, TX 75075. www.Josh.org. +1 972 907 1000. Used by Permission.

The Sound...