“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.“–James 1:14-15

A number of years ago, a play was written called The Potato Creek Chair of Death. This was a rather bizarre theatrical work about a man who built a timing device he attached to a shotgun. The timer was set to go off at some point in the next hundred years. In front of the gun, a chair was placed where people who wanted to test their luck could sit for a minute at a time.

In the play, thrill seekers came from hundreds of miles around to have their minute in the chair and sit in the shell’s path. They all knew the gun could go off at any time, but they were gambling that it wouldn’t be during their minute in the chair.

Most people in real life probably wouldn’t dream of sitting in that chair. Yet, many of those very same people live their entire lives gambling that they can get away with sin, foolishly ignoring the risks of the inevitable self-destruction that sin ultimately brings.

Spiritually speaking, sitting in that chair is exactly what gambling with sin is like. And eventually, that sin will come back to bite and can even destroy you.

Don’t gamble with sin. Steer clear of sinful patterns of behavior and you’ll be able to live free from the self-inflicted pain, anguish, and destruction it will bring in your life.

Pray that God would open your eyes to any sinful patterns of behavior He wants to cleanse in your life for your good and His glory.( Senior Living)

God already knows what the future holds. He has a plan for each of us and the power to complete it. Don’t be shocked by surprises–God is never surprised, confused, or helpless. Whatever comes your way, He is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” ( Eph. 3:20). Knowing God is able enables us. Knowing God cares relieves us of our cares. Now you are ready for the day! Be thankful for it and make good use of it—you won’t pass this way again!

 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”–James 1:2-3

In December of 1987, a Soviet cosmonaut returned to earth after nearly 11 months in orbit above the earth. He was in very good health, which hadn’t always been the case in journeys like this. Five years earlier, after 211 days in space, two cosmonauts were sick for almost a month after they returned from orbit.

So what was the difference? Well, after the earlier cosmonauts returned to earth atrophied and sick after so long in zero gravity, the Soviets invented the “penguin suit,” a running suit laced with elastic bands that resisted every move the wearer made. This forced the cosmonauts to exert strength every time they moved. And it was the resistance that strengthened them.

It can be easy to long for days without difficulty. But God knows that if we’re to become stronger, we must face resistance in our lives. Now, that doesn’t mean we should only long for hard days, but it does mean that the resistance we face has a purpose of making us stronger.

The truth is that an easier life leads to weaker spiritual muscles. But if we’ll face our troubles head on, fully trusting in Christ’s power in us, we’ll grow stronger spiritually and be ready for the next challenge that comes our way.

Pray and ask God to develop your “spiritual muscles” by giving you the resolve to face life’s challenges head on with faith in Him. (Senior Living)

Let us then love Him with all our heart, serve Him with all our strength, glorify Him in all that we do, give to Him all our devotion, trust Him for all our needs, and find our pleasure in pleasing Him. Do these things and you will not fail. In the doing of these things we will be able to keep going and growing regardless of the circumstances.