First One Wins!

Hands on the swinging hips, chest pushed out like a rooster coming out of the hen house, nice black dress that is so skin tight that the shape of the buttocks shows the girls pantie line. 
Jeans are so tight that the wallet has left a trace mark on the back right pocket. The shirt fits so tight that you can see every ripple or non ripple from what is under the shirt.
I'm about to get REAL with you so hold on. 
Okay guys: who's tongues were hanging out and panting? Girls: who was biting their lower lip?
Now ask yourself this question.  Was it healthy to think that way? If I put your thoughts and emotions on a computer screen and showed it to the world, how would that make you feel?
How about your partner, would they mind your lust after this vision?
Now the devil wants you to go believe that it is all right for you think this way, say some things and do things that would please your flesh.   He is slick with words like "you want to tap into that wouldn't you?" "Ooh, that looks so goooood."  
This is wrong, wrong, wrong. God did not make you nor anyone else to be lusted over. It isn't what you see that matters but what you don't see.  How is the girls heart? Is it pure, honest, trustworthy? How about the boys? Is his heart gentle, kind, and self controlling?  By the way I've described it and Satan temps us is  to say that they are easy, sexually tantalizing, and needs YOUR attention.
The word tells us to take every thought captive and I agree with a pastor that recently told me to take every emotion captive too. Now that you take it captive what do we do with it? How about taking to the God who created you for a good life?
Growing up I didn't like being a tattle tale, did you? Although, I am sure I was one a time or two. Then I grew up and secrets became my life style. Now I am quick to tattle tale...on the devil.  I go to the Father and point fingers.  "Pappa, did you see what the devil just did?" "He had me watching that guy and my tongue was on the floor!" "Lord, he is good lookin' but I know you don't want me to be looked at like that, I'm sorry I looked at him that way."  Boom! I just slapped  the devil in his face by telling God what he did to me. Come on, don't you know that the devil is doing the same thing? 
In sixth grade I had a girl, Caprice, she dared me to strike a match and throw it into a steel trash can in the hall. As soon as I struck the match and threw it in the can; she ran into the principles office to tattle tale on me. Now, I was the one that got into trouble. Hey, you would do it to if you were dared!
Okay, so if I had taken the thought captive and thought about my butt being whipped when I got home, I might not have struck the match. If I had been the tattle tale first, Caprice might have gotten in trouble for bringing the matches to school. So now it's a race. The first one to the office is the better person. The first one to be a tattle tale to God is a better person, but not excused for agreeing wtih the enemy and his lies.
Remember, we have to submit, take responsibility for our own actions and ask for forgiveness.  The first one on her or his knees wins. I'd rather win against the devil any day than have to face my consequences...like a paddle.
Look, God created you. The word says you are fearfully and wonderfully made in His likeness. That means you are made for something good, not evil. You are made to be treated with kindness, gentleness, self control, AND have all these things also. God says you are WORTH more than rubies and gems. Ponder on that for a moment. Worth - More - Than - Rubies and Gems!  
 You are priceless, precious, and special.
God says you are _____________________.  Can you fill in the blank? Can you believe what He says?

If you have a difficult time believing the good in yourself, how about connecting with a friend and ask them what they believe that is good about you.  Then receive what they say, write it down, and know you have a great self worth by a Great God who created you. Remember seeing this phrase in Walmart?
"Believe, Achieve, Succeed."  It's the same with yourself and with God. You see, apart from God you can't do it but with God ALL things are possible.

Let's change our stinking thinking for something priceless and good.

~Be Encouraged today by being the first one to win!