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“Hiding out with the enemy brings temporary relief.”

A thought by Max Lucado (2013-04-29) from his book, Facing Your Giants: God Still Does the Impossible (p. 75). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

It really does, doesn’t it?  At least in the beginning.

Max says, “Doesn’t it always? Stop resisting alcohol, and you’ll laugh— for a while. Move out on your spouse, and you’ll relax— for a time. Indulge in the porn, and you’ll be entertained— for a season.”

He goes on, “But then talons of temptation sink in. Waves of guilt crash in. The loneliness of breaking up rushes in. ‘There’s a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again— it leads straight to hell. Sure, those people appear to be having a good time, but all that laughter will end in heartbreak’ (Prov. 14: 12– 13 MSG).”

So what do we do instead?

Max later says, “Be quick to pray, seek healthy counsel, and don’t give up. Take a long look at the shore that awaits you. Don’t be fooled by the fog of the slump. The finish may be only strokes away. Don’t make the mistake of Florence Chadwick. In 1952, she attempted to swim the chilly ocean waters between Catalina Island and the California shore. She swam through foggy weather and choppy seas for fifteen hours. Her muscles began to cramp, and her resolve weakened. She begged to be taken out of the water, but her mother, riding in a boat alongside, urged her not to give up. She kept trying but grew exhausted and stopped swimming. Aids lifted her out of the water and into the boat. They paddled a few more minutes, the mist broke, and she discovered that the shore was less than a half mile away. ‘All I could see was the fog,’ she explained at a news conference. ‘I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it.’”

He then says, “Take a long look at the shore that awaits you. Don’t be fooled by the fog of the slump. The finish may be only strokes away. God may be, at this moment, lifting his hand to signal Gabriel to grab the trumpet. Angels may be assembling, saints gathering, demons trembling. Stay at it! Stay in the water. Stay in the race. Stay in the fight. Give grace, one more time. Be generous, one more time. Teach one more class, encourage one more soul, swim one more stroke.”


So, will you quickly pray, seek healthy counsel and then don’t give up?  Will you?
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