GUARDING OUR THOUGHTS

04_06

“With men hidden in the room, she called to him, ‘Samson, the Philistines are upon you!’ But he snapped the bowstrings as easily as a piece of string snaps when it comes close to a flame. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.”

Judges 16:9

I think that the story of Samson is one of the saddest stories we can read in the whole Bible. His birth was supernatural, and so was his strength. It seemed like life was smiling at him until he began to show cracks in his character. Although his fall was not immediate, the Adversary was working on him little by little, focusing on his greatest weakness women. It was because of his weakness towards women that he began to give up ground to the enemy. The day came when he got involved with a seductive woman, whose sole motivation in being with Samson was financial gain, but he was blinded to this. Delilah’s strategy was to toy with Samson’s thoughts and she began pressuring him again and again to obtain the information she wanted.

Wrong thoughts do not enter the human mind from inanimate objects; rather, behind every incorrect thought there is a demonic force at work, inspiring those thoughts. Delilah had men lurking, ready to act the moment she gained the right information. Samson would then be at the mercy of those evil people, who are like the assigned demons, waiting to gain access to our lives.

Unfortunately, Samson did not realize he was cutting God out of his life with his repeated wrong behavior. He simply did not foresee it; but at the moment when did the Lord had already left him.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
When Carlos was sixteen years old, he was in a car accident, and broke one of his legs. The injury was so severe that he almost lost the limb and he faced a great struggle to fight an infection of an unknown origin. Later, doctors found out that a powerful virus, which reproduced itself rapidly, was causing the infection. When they discovered this, Carlos’ parents began a very strict routine, washing the injury every four hours for the next six months in order to defeat the infection.

This helps us to understand that sin, which contaminates man’s heart, is like that powerful virus. Every person has to remain on their guard, watching their conduct at all times. We need to live our lives fully committed to God and live as faithful followers that support our leaders. Above all, it is necessary for everyone to understand the power of the Cross of Jesus, because it is here that the antidote against that evil called sin is found. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10b).

TODAY’S DECLARATION
“My mind is guarded by the Spirit of God because I accept God’s thoughts that are given to me by the revelation of His Word.”

Today’s post is an excerpt from Pastor Cesar Castellanos’ book, Declarations of Power for 365 Days of the Year: Volume Two.

TODAY’S BIBLE READING

    • Old Testament: Joshua 13-14; Psalms 77
    • New Testament: Mark 2:13-17; 1 Corinthians 5

GUARDING OUR THOUGHTS