As I sit here reflecting over the many events of my past life, I recall a situation and point where I was faced with a decision of whether to do something or not, and like in Romans 7:14-25, I battled and struggled a war within and with myself, and when I asked myself why I did what I did, the answer is always the same: "THE DEVIL PULLED HARDER". I stood there thinking about it. Jesus pulled one leg and the devil pulled the other. But the devil pulled harder than Jesus.

        The devil will pull your leg, you’ll be tempted, but you don’t have to tumble.

        He’s mighty, but he’s not almighty. He’s like any bully, he’ll retreat when you resist him in the power and presence of our almighty God.

        The Bible says: “Give yourself humbly to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you”. (see; James 4:1-8).

        As I let go and let God, I live an abundant and victorious life now.

        A wise and practical person said; “Trouble is one thing you never want to borrow”. Let’s think about this advice. Are we borrowing trouble by fretting about something that has happened in the past, or are we concerned about something that we just might have to face in the future?

        The past or future does not exist in the present. However; the payback from borrowing negative thoughts from those times can cause anxiety and concern that adversely affect our emotional and physical well-being now.

        Knowing this, we do not borrow trouble from our own past or future or from other persons. We live in the real world of the NOW. In the now, God is guiding and protecting, uplifting and assisting us.

        As we let go concern and let God move in every area of our lives, we live the abundant, victorious lives God intends us to live.

        Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into it’s own mold, but let God remold your mind from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all His demands and moves toward the goal of true maturity.

        In all his dealings with us, God is at work for our contentment; in misfortune, our submission; in darkness, and at all times, our obedience and trust in Him.

        Difficulties, limitations, hindrances, bereavements, and losses, though we shrink exceedingly from them, are the very agencies that God uses to cause us to grow. As an infant has its' limbs developed by means of exercise and nourishment . . . So, in a spiritual sense is the Christian made strong by adversity.

        The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

        Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, then to take rank with those spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the, twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.

        We do not stand in the world bearing witness to Christ, but stand in Christ and bear witness to the world.

There can be no mistake so bad . . . as the greatest mistake of saying nothing for Christ.

        Though we wouldn't admit it, most of’ us live as if God were not paying any attention to what we think and do. It is up to you and me individually to find out through prayer and Bible study just what He wants us to do, and do it. (Eph. 5:17)

        As a traveler boarded a small ferry in the Sudan, he stumbled over a little boy who was squatting in the bottom of the boat. The boy stayed there even though people fell over him. Finally the traveler suggested to the ferryman that the boy be moved. “NO!” was his answer. “If the boy gets up the boat will sink.”

        The boy served as a human cork to keep the water out. We may never get to do that, but God does equip us to serve Him in many other ways. In the Christian life we grow by serving. Our love grows when we love. We become better teachers when we teach. We become stronger helpers as we help. We develop the muscles of our legs by bicycling, running, jumping, or walking. In a similar way our faith grows stronger as we exercise it in service for God.