“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.”    Isaiah 5:20-21

Man has had a curious fascination with evil from the beginning. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve had a full knowledge of goodness because they had a very close relationship with the all-good God. Goodness was written on their hearts and they had never sinned.

Eve believed the lie from Satan that evil would not harm them and that God was keeping something good from them. And so, she took of the fruit and offered it to Adam, who also ate it. Immediately, they entered the realm of evil. They came face to face with God who alone is Goodness. Nothing would ever be the same for them.

Who are you, a human with a sinful nature, to think you can draw near to evil and not be affected by it? How can you feel safe being anywhere near it? Look closely at Adam and Eve in their perfection before they disobeyed God. Ponder the outcome for the devil as he fell in his pride as described in Isaiah 14:12-15.

Where will your end be if you seek after evil? You were taught differently when you came to Him and your understanding isn’t darkened anymore by the lie that He is keeping you from something good.

Father, we pray that you would deliver us from evil. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who helps us in our weakness. Give us help in the hour of testing to put all our trust in you alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 By Rich Vega
Used by Permission

Rich also write for :  www.thelife.com/dailydevotions

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

RELATED READING

Deliver Us from Evil

Fighting Evil or Seeking Good?

In the Face of Evil

The post Is He Keeping Something Good From Me? appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:14

We have just observed the National Day of Prayer, something officially observed in our land since President Truman signed a proclamation in 1952. There were numerous events but for the most part people kept on doing what they normally do with scant observance of the reason for the day. There was not a word about it in my hometown newspaper.

It seems that all too often there is a lackadaisical attitude about prayer, but the Scriptures admonish us to pray. (Hebrews 10:22) tells us to draw near. God always encourages us to draw close to Him in prayer. Here Paul instructs us to do so with unwavering confidence, fullness of faith, without any doubt, because the sacrifice of Jesus Christ has cleared our conscience and paved the way into God’s presence. Today, some no longer feel the need to pray and study daily. They make the excuse that they do not have enough time.

All too often we see the victory against evil is to engage in a culture war to root out evil, focusing on what is wrong. We should do that, but not as a primary focus. As long as we seek moral and spiritual victory on a horizontal plane, we will fall short.

The scriptures are clear that we are to seek good and the overcoming of evil by looking up, not out. Prayer is the access to that vertical relationship. We need to spend less time fighting evil and more time seeking good (God).

We, who are called by his name are to humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways. I can’t control the actions and thoughts of others, but I can control myself and turn from my wicked ways. I should cleanse myself before throwing darts at others. All of us have fallen short and need to daily repent, rebuild and ask God to restore.

We do that through prayer ………. silent prayer, corporate prayer, intercessory prayer and constant prayer. When we do this individually and corporately as people of faith, then God will hear, forgive and heal our land.

So before we judge others may we resolve to look first at ourselves, get on our knees and seek personal restoration. Then, and only then, individually and collectively, we will discover the true power of prayer.
(a thought on life from John Grant )

by John Grant
used by permission

John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

FURTHER READING

How to Pray

Sample Prayers

Intercessory Prayer Story

How to Pray for Our LEADERS and Country

Concerts of Prayer Outline (Prayer Meeting)

Conversational Prayer – How to lead group prayer – or – Shorter Version

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The post Fighting Evil or Seeking Good? appeared first on Thoughts About God.