Author: <span class="vcard">Randy Garcia</span>

In the Matthew 18 story, we are told that a man was forgiven of a huge debt (about $800,000.00 in today’s world). Then, he was unwilling to forgive someone else who owed him what amount to about $200.00. That is sad. One of the greatest tools in Satan’s toolbox that he uses against us to destroy our relationships is unforgiveness.

Do you believe that we are living the last days? Matthew 24 records the words of Jesus as He prophesied what would be happening before His return. Wars and rumors of wars. False prophets. Famines. Earthquakes. Lawlessness. And in the middle of this list, Jesus says that many people will be offended. People say things about you. Stab you in the back. Disagree with your opinions. Perhaps someone you love betrayed you. Perhaps you confided in someone with a deep secret, only to have them betray your confidence. You have important choices to make. Do you pick up the offense or not?

Whether you realize it or not, you are in a battle. The moment you gave your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, you angered the devil. And the primary place this battle takes place is in your mind. There is a battle going on between good and evil, right and wrong, God and the devil. Your mind is a battleground. And the choice is yours.

Jesus knows what it is like to tempted. And He also knows how to overcome it.  As we read the passage in Luke 4, we can learn a few lessons that will set us up for victory. Always remember that when you are tempted, God always provides a way out.

People often say, “The devil made me do it.”  Unfortunately, that is a false statement. Although the devil does tempt you, he cannot make you do anything. Remember this: You can’t stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them from making a nest in your hair.  The devil tempts you to . . .

Even though she prayed about it, Melinda didn’t have much hope. She had just finished an interview for a dream position with a terrific company and great benefits. The reason she didn’t have much hope is because three of the other candidates were graduates of Ivy League Universities with a myriad of qualifications.

My friend, just because you are facing some obstacles does not mean that you don’t have the favor of God. The enemy tries to steal, kill and destroy, but God has the final word. Because you have His favor. In Joseph’s case, he ended up being reunited with his family, with blessings from both his earthly father and heavenly father.

Recently, I was asking myself the question, “Why did God choose Moses to lead His people out of Egypt?” After all, Moses stuttered. He lacked confidence. He gave God excuses. It just didn’t make sense. But the one attribute Moses had was his desire for God’s glory.

The story of Ruth could very well be your story as well. Perhaps you can identify with the fact that life wasn’t going according to the way she planned it. Her husband passed away. Her father-in-law passed away. Life was falling apart.

Genesis 6 tells us that there was great wickedness on the earth. Sin was so bad that God found it necessary to destroy the inhabitants of the earth. Except for one man and his family. Noah. Why did God find favor in Noah? Scripture says because he was a righteous and blameless man who walked with God (Gen. 6:9). In the middle of a sinful people, Noah stood out. And God’s favor on Noah was a game changer.