Ephesians 4:23-27
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; [24] And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. [25] Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. [26] Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: [27] Neither give place to the devil.
The devotional reading from my Tecarta Bible app today addressed giving place to the devil in our heart. https://tbibl.es/9Pyl
The following is the devotional,
No Footholds
Let’s continue with our victory plan to win the battle of temptation:
2. Protect the Condition of Your Heart
Ever heard the phrase “garbage in/garbage out”? It’s true that whatever we allow to collect in our heart will affect everything we do! So what condition is your heart in? The psalmist asked God to search his heart—to see if there was anything that displeased God—and to help him surrender it. God will do the same for you, if you’ll ask him.
You see, the HEART affects everything you do. It’s the holding tank for your emotions and feelings. The condition of your heart will determine your ability to withstand temptation. So be certain your heart is truly and totally in God’s hands.
We’re told in Ephesians not to give the devil a foothold. What does that mean? Satan has the ability to carve out the tiniest space in your life. It’s unnoticeable at first. But he holds on so he can eventually grab more and more. That’s what a foothold is. If an alligator bites someone’s foot and can hold on long enough, he’ll eventually have the entire person.
When soldiers want to take possession of an island, their strategy is to first get a beachhead—an area on shore that’s secured to make way for safe landing of more troops and supplies. After they have control of the beachhead, they push and push until finally the entire island is theirs.
Know this: All Satan wants right now is a tiny foothold in your life. And how does he get a foothold? Any negative emotion can be a start. It may be a tiny portion of your heart. But two or three tiny portions make you an easy target. Frustration in itself won’t do you in. But frustration, worry, and anger all together becomes a powerful combination, and it sets you up for temptation.
Know It!Guard your heart! Protect it as you would a gold mine—because it really is! Don’t allow negative thoughts and bitter feelings to collect there. Like the psalmist, approach God and ask him to search your heart. There’s no one who can help you protect it better than the One who created it!
Read It!Psalms 9:1; 19:14; Proverbs 4:23; Ephesians 4:26-27
Pray It!Confess the negative feelings, bitterness, and grudges you’ve held. Tell God that you don’t want your heart simply to become a holding tank for things that can give Satan a foothold. Ask God for a pure heart—one that belongs totally to him.
In The Word 