Whatever is difficult for US to resist is the carrot he wiggles. So it's there. Right in our faces. Beguiling. Bewitching. Left to our own strength, we'd likely succumb to it's seduction. But we are not left alone to take on this foe. Something else waves before us as well. A WAY OF ESCAPE, a banner of victory through Christ. While Hell lifts sin and destruction with its flashing light facade, Heaven beams a light of deliverance, wrapped in unadorned simplicity. It may be a prayer to utter, a verse to speak, an accountability partner to call, a message of hope to look toward, an unexpected blessing to appreciate, or a reminder of past victories to recall, but THE WAY (Jesus) always presents A WAY to escape Satan's snares. The choice is ours, but we are never left without one: The Way, The Truth, The Life, or the way of destruction and death.
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Tip/Tidbit: Plan for temptation. Line up an accountability partner and put their phone number on speed dial. Memorize a Bible verse to quote the minute a thought tries to lure you off track. Plan for clean entertainment to enjoy to avoid the wrong kind of relaxation. The way of escape is often preparing to detour around the roadblocks you know are ahead. 
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Ezekiel 11:19 "And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:"
Ezekiel 36:26 "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh."

As I read these scriptures, I thought about how the Israelites had served gods made by hands, often carved from wood and stone. In some ways, the stony heart was a reflection of the god they served. Likewise, Jesus, Heaven's royalty Who robed himself in flesh, is my God. I want my heart to reflect Him. His nature. His actions. His love. I want a heart like His.


​Tip/Tidbit: To discover what forms our hearts, we must ask ourselves: Do I yearn for God and love others, or do I want more of what this world has to offer? 

During the month of January, I participated in a Bible study on the New Birth experience. The key verse was John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him (Nicodemus) 'Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" I noticed that in many ways, the spiritual birthing process is similar to the birth occurring in nature. Here are a few comparisons.
When we are born again, we move from a cocoon of darkness and limited mobility into God's marvelous kingdom of light and freedom. Just as contractions push the baby through the birth canal, often, it is pressure that urges us to make the transition from life in the world to life in the Spirit.
Once the birth is in process, however, there is a rush of amniotic fluid. This signals the change that is taking place. These waters are not from outside the body but are from within the womb. Baptism, the spiritual rush of water, is part of the new birth experience. Baptismal waters, however, are not of themselves supernatural; they, like bath water, are from the sinful world, but baptism represents the transformation that is in process, and it is a vital part of being born again.
Once a birth has begun, the baby must exit the mother's body. Otherwise, birth has not occurred. Therefore, the crucial focus of childbirth is getting the infant into the world. Birthing is not concerned with cleanliness of the baby or the mother, although a sterile environment in which to bring forth a child is beneficial to overall health and prevents infection.  In like manner, newborns in Christ may have lingering residue of the world clinging to them. That is not critical to the birthing process. In fact, those helping bring them into the kingdom of God may lose some of their pristine appearance as well.  At the same time, making an effort to surround the spiritual newborn with a holy environment affords the new convert protection. But holiness isn't the focus of the new birth.
Before cleaning up occurs, the cord must be cut. It'd be unhealthy for a newborn to stay attached to the placenta; its new life requires it to be severed from what links it to its mother. In the same way, a spiritual new birth severs ties to the world. Scripture says we are shaped in iniquity; therefore, our natural tendency is to lean toward sin, but the new birth experience gives God the power to sever the attachments we have to the world. We are no longer dependent on whatever sin pumps into us to feel sustained. We have been delivered from restriction into real life where we can experience full potential.  But for there to be life, there must be breath.
So we breathe. And breathe. And breathe. Ensconced in the warmth of God's presence, we inhale deep gulps of the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost, which Scripture often likens wind or breath. This is the part of the new birth process that gives us the ability to live in God's world. When we experience a new birth, we breath in the refreshing Spirit of God. Then, once we are born again, we continue to walk in the Spirit. Breathing and breathing and breathing God's Spirit. Just like a child would die if it ceased to breathe, a soul that ceases its intake of the Spirit, needs reviving or it, too shall perish.
Most wonderful of all, this New Birth is for everyone. Just as a newborn doesn't earn its place in the outside world, we are given the opportunity to have a new birth because Jesus made it possible. He didn't give qualifying prerequisites. He invited all to experience life everlasting. What a blessing to be removed from the confines of the world into the marvelous new life of God's light and grace and hope.
Tips/Tidbits: Enjoy the bible study pages here:  /bible-study-lessons.html