101 Devotionals for Boys from the Lives of Great Christians and 101 Devotionals for Girls from the Lives of Great Christians will both be published in 2017. We’re publishing one or two devotionals a week to give you a taste of what you’ll get in those two gift books. This one is based on a story from Lights in a Dark Place: True Stories of God at Work in Colombia (Hidden Heroes #5).
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Have you ever had bad thoughts come into your mind that you wished you could be rid of?
This happened to Marco Franco. Enemies had attacked him for being a Christian, and nearly killed him. His body recovered, but his spirits became very low. Marco struggled in his thoughts, because he wanted to hate his attackers. Thoughts about attacking them back kept coming into his mind.
Over and over Marco asked God to forgive him and help him to love his enemies, but the thoughts just kept coming back. He sank into deep depression and despair. “How can I possibly even be a Christian?” he thought.
Pastor Vicente helped Marco understand that this was an attack from the enemy, Satan. He told him that it is no sin to be tempted. It’s a sin to welcome the temptation. Marco was able to stand against the temptation and recover in his spirits. He loved his enemies and led many to Christ.
“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.” ~Ephesians 6:16
Heavenly Father, help me to remember that it is no sin to be tempted, only to welcome the temptation. Thank You that I can resist temptations through the shield of faith in Jesus Christ.
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