January 22 ~

In my inner being I delight in God's Law ... But I discern in my bodily members -- in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh -- a different law (rule of action) at war against the law of my mind (my reason) and making me a prisoner to the law of sin ... He that committeth sin is of the devil ...
Rom.7:22 (Beck); 7:23 (Amp); 1 Jn.3:8 (KJV)

It makes no diff'rence what my doctrine is;
one thing I can be sure of, and it's this:
that Satan constantly will try to be
the source of ev'ry thought that enters me
which I accept. He endlessly will try
to con me, so it's by my fleshly "I"
I'll daily live. The human point of view
he'll try to weave into each thing I do!
He'll trick, torment me, lie, and interject
impatience, fretting, fearing, faithlessness
and other godless lusts into my soul.
To keep me locked in Self is his prime goal
- in Self! - and not in Christ, where I'd be free
from my "old nature," "old man" -- free from "me"!

... be vigilant and cautious at all times, for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour ... I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ ... Satan himself can disguise himself as an angel of light ... put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh ... From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view ... Get behind Me, Satan! You are in My way ... for you are minding what partakes not of the nature and quality of God, but of men ... If any one desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself -- that is, disregard, lose sight of and forget himself and his own interests -- and take up his cross and follow Me ... And now, little children, abide (live, remain permanently) in Him ... taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ ...
1 Pet.5:8 (Amp); 2Cor.11:3 (RSV); 11:14 (Bar); Rom.13:14 (NAS); 2Cor.5:16 (RSV); Matt.16:23,24 (Amp); 1 Jn.2:28 (Amp); 2Cor.10:5 (NAS).

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