The Bible says in Luke 4:13 that "And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season." But The New International Version says "When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time."
This verse(Luke 4:13) tells us about one of the characteristics of the enemy which is persistence. The verse reveals to us that though Jesus defeated the enemy in Round 1, he was sure planning on returning when hopefully Jesus won't be as prepared. The NIV describes this time as an "OPPORTUNED TIME". So, I ask you today, that have you created such a time in your life?
An opportuned time, is a time when the devil expects you to be:
- Weak spiritually: you aren't praying as much and your faith in God is dwindling.
- Weak emotionally: have been hurt by someone you love. Marital problems are too much and so on.
- Weak mentally: you are starting to see yourself as a failure, a time of low self esteem and confusion.
- Weak physically: you are in a state of ill health and aren't as effective or active as you use to be or would like to be.
- Weak financially: a time of unmanageable debt or maybe you've just lost your job and the bills are piling up.
All these times of weakness provide an oppurtunity to the enemy which could strike taking advantage of you if you let him. These are times when you probably most vulnurable to the deceit of the enemy asking you to do that which is not right by God.
For example:
A girl feels she is fat and overweight. She is pressured by society and everyone to lose weight and it just seems impossible. She becomes weak both emotionally and mentally and loses self esteem and confidence. She gets approached by a guy that says he loves her but takes advantage of her weakness persuading her to have unmarital sex. She gives in because she feels that is the only way she can hold on to the one that she thinks loves her not knowing, that the guy is just a bad seed planted by the enemy in an OPPURTUNED TIME.
I pray that God empowers you that even at the time when the enemy expects you to be weak, your shall be strong and remain faithful to God in Jesus name Amen.
Prayer point: God, please help me that even in my time of weakness, you shall renew my strength so that I may not fall victim to the devils attack in Jesus name Amen. |
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