Stepping Stones: The Battlefield Is Our Mind

Transformational Tip
We were born into a world at war, and you will live all your days in the midst of a great spiritual battle. Every day all the forces of good and evil, heaven and hell, God and Satan collide. You have experienced and witnessed this warfare.
Today's scripture are words spoken by Jesus...he makes the choices so obvious, so clear. So few of us face this fact; I know I'm guilty of not reminding myself each day that I'm in the middle of spiritual warfare.
Yes, there is a thief out there...he comes only to steal and destroy. And he's not interesting in taking a few things and be gone - he wants it all; your marriage, your job, your children, your relationships - everything. Satan's main strategy is distorting our lenses and disrupting our decision-making skills. Satan even went after Jesus with lies and trying to affect Jesus' decisions.
But it's the second part of Jesus' sentence we need to focus on. He tells us He has come so that we may have life and life to the fullest. However, you have to choose this life; it will not be handed to you. You need face into the fact...every day...that you are smack dab in the middle of this war. Just like Jesus used the BIBLE to be His lenses and the reference for accurate decision-making, that's what we need to use.
Jesus' offer to us is life, but you better be ready to fight for it. Because the bad guy on the other side is your greatest enemy.
It's not pleasant news, but it is news everyone needs to hear.
Today, stop yourself when tempted to stray and calm yourself with God's word and Jesus' promise of abundant life so you don't take Satan's lie. Also, think of one or two people at this moment that you want to alert or remind that there is a thief stalking them. Call them, forward this email to them...pray for them.

Prayer
Dear Father God,
I choose life! Thank You Father for providing such a beautiful alternative; life. I ask for Your help Father God, I need Your help to face into the fact that I am in the middle of spiritual warfare...and to help me remember that You sent Your son so that I may have abundant life. I have seen what this enemy is capable Lord; in my life and in the lives of others. I pray that You help me and the Stepping Stones praying community accept the fact that there is an enemy out there trying to steal all we have...to destroy and kill. Help me Lord as a father to protect my children from this theif; to protect all those I love.
I pray in need and through Jesus Christ - AMEN!

The Truth
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
John 10:10
And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread."
But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple
and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you,' and "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"
Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me."
Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'"
Matthew 4:3-10
My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
Proverbs 1:10