Arise!

1Jn. 2:¹⁶ “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world”

Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness can be broken into the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. The devil said to Jesus, “if you are the Son of God command the stones to turn to bread”. This is the craving for physical pleasure and with Jesus it was the craving for food. Over the next few days, we are going to be focusing on the craving for physical pleasure with particular emphasis on sex. I encourage parents to discuss with teenage children who may be using the adult devotional each day. It is important they learn it in God’s Word so the world will not give them a broken foundation.

If you can curb your appetite for food then you can control your whole body and even curb your appetite for sex. I am emphasizing this because it is major. If you can take a hold of your appetite for food, then you can take a hold of your life. The enemy will keep pushing for people to take things that God has not given. The enemy knows that when we take the things we are not supposed to take, we become subject to the things that God has placed beneath us. In fact, the things we are supposed to rule over will begin to torment us. The perversion of sex is one major area the enemy exploits and makes sure people become subject to him. That hold is going to be broken in Jesus Mighty Name.

The world has commonized sex so much that it has almost lost its meaning. The advertising industry uses sexual images to market virtually everything. When I asked an advertising official why, his said, “sex sells”. So they just mix it up with everything. This shows that more people are getting attracted rather than disgusted. The Internet has made sex and nudity even more common and a lot of people are getting ensnared; even young girls.

The fear of rejection is one of the major reasons for girls losing their virginity. A girl that has never experienced affection from her father, falls into the embrace of a stranger. The stranger demands more and because the girl does not want to be rejected, she gives in to sexual pressure. A large percentage of girls did not lose their virginity for love but for fear of rejection. Only God can satisfy man’s craving for love and acceptance.

Prayer: Lord, empower me to curb my appetite for food and overcome the craving for physical pleasure at the detriment of my soul, in Jesus Name. Amen!