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Bass Fishing

  • Let no man say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God,' for God can't be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death.' James 1:13 WEB

    I had been fishing hard all morning but had caught nothing. It was almost noon when I decided to cast my line one more time and then head back to the hill empty handed. Right after the lure sank into the water, I felt a slight bump. I thought it might have been a log, but just in case, I took the slack out of the line and yanked back on the rod to set the hook.

    Whatever it was did not budge at all and I thought the line was hung, but then' slowly it started moving off to the right. I held on tight and in few minutes a seven-pound large mouth bass danced by the boat on its tail. I fought it for what seemed like an hour, though I am sure it was just a few minutes before it gave up and I wrestled him into the boat.

    All morning I had cast lures in front of fish, but they would not bite. They were not hungry for what I had. Finally I found one that was, and I caught it. He passionately went after the bait, hook, line and sinker. In this case, it was a five-inch black plastic worm and the fish wanted it.

    James made it clear that nothing outside of you tempts you; it is what is already inside of you that is hungry. Everyone has a different appetite as well. Eve wanted the forbidden fruit. Sex, drugs, pornography, money, eating, drinking and a million other things are not the root of the problem. The problem is that the fish is hungry.

    God can take away that desire. At one time I enjoyed smoking. Now, I despise it and It is no longer a temptation for me to be around it. If you are drawn to something like this, pray for the Lord to deliver you from it. When the hunger is gone, it will no longer tempt you even if it appears right in front of you like a lure before a fish. If he is not hungry, he will not bite.

    Prayer: Father, remove the desires from me that are not right and deliver me from things that drag me down each time. I want to serve You, but there are still things in me that do not. Help my desire line up with Yours, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

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32 comments
  • 2
Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer Yes Lord, and I thank you in Jesus name, amen.
October 4, 2015
  • 2
Rick Doran
Rick Doran Thank You Heavenly Father for always being in my corner!
October 4, 2015
  • 2
Penelope Rhome
Penelope Rhome I am a sinner thank you Lord forgiving me amen
October 4, 2015
  • 2
Tonya Evans
Tonya Evans Thank you there are things in my life that i need to change and i could use the help. God have mercy on me!
October 4, 2015
  • 3
Carol Policastro
Carol Policastro Today's message is right in line with the Bible passage we will be doing at our community church groups today.  Galatians 5:16-26.  I continue to ask God to take away the things that stand in my way of complete surrender to His will.  Timely message as always.  I wonder how many of those reading this devotional today felt it meant solely for them??  Amen and God bless us all.  I think today is going to be an awesome day.
October 4, 2015
  • 2
Lorna Smetak
Lorna Smetak The smoking part, i agree since i want to quit and not going to give up.  
October 4, 2015
  • 2
Shelli Parr Nichols
Shelli Parr Nichols Praying for you too Lorna!!
October 4, 2015
  • 2
Joey Smith
Joey Smith Amen, Thank you Pastor Dion for sharing the words of The Lord on this Sunday morning. Have a Blessed Day.
October 4, 2015
  • 3
Susan P
Susan Pedited: October 4, 2015 Eaarlier this morning I read a devotional called, "When it Feels Like Your Fail Dial is Set on Repeat" and then here is your devotional! Please help me Lord where I  fail you again and again. 
October 4, 2015
  • 2
Beatrice "Raye" Huth
Beatrice "Raye" Huth Beautiful message; thank you Pastor.   Oh, my granddaughter is improving from her severe concussion (Feb. 2015) and they are taking the prisms out of her glasses! Which means her eyes are healing (blurred vision and unable to get them to focus without intense headaches).  This journey is not over but heading in the right direction.  Please keep Alexis in your prayers; may GOD lay healing on her and let her learn from this occurrence that life is not over when something happens; we must pick ourselves up, dust off and keep going.
October 4, 2015
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd Praise God, I pray that the Lord continues to heal her and allows her to be completely restored, in the name of Jesus!
October 4, 2015
  • 2
Melchorita Fahey
Melchorita Fahey Amen!
October 4, 2015
  • 3
Carol Pady
Carol Pady Amen! My Abba Father delivered me from many addictions,  it took some time but  eventually they all went away. I have no desire for tobacco or alcohol. I was a young adult in the 7 0's and addicted to heroin at one time. When I found Jesus and was born again, He released me from that addiction! In my 30 ' s He took tobacco away and in my 60 ' s I completely  gave up alcohol. Now I am working on other things He has shown me. One step at a time, one day at a time, He continues the good work He started in me!
October 4, 2015
  • 1
Kate Bergin
Kate Bergin Hallelujah, Carol! I pray the Lord continues his work in you and that you stand always in His almighty grace. Amen
October 4, 2015
  • 3
Kate Bergin
Kate Bergin Thank you, Pastor, as always you speak to something I wrestle with & pray for the Lords deliverance from-the smoking! Many people I know either don't smoke or are former smokers and I ask the Lord, who has delivered me from many things, and I suppose I don't know what to expect. Just to wake up and not want to have one with my morning coffee ? Anyway, please pray for me, and any input of experiences from this lovely flock I will so appreciate. The Lord has blessed me by bringing me here. Amen.
October 4, 2015
  • 2
Shelli Parr Nichols
Shelli Parr Nichols Will be praying for you Kate, you are not alone!!
October 4, 2015
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd Father, I lift up Kate to you and pray that you please grant her the grace to resist this addiction, that you set her free from the shackles of this addiction and help her to be victorious in this fight, in the name of Jesus, amen!
October 4, 2015
  • 3
Shelli Parr Nichols
Shelli Parr Nichols I completely mirror what Kate said. Have smoked for 35 of my 50 years and I desperately want to quit.  I know that it is standing in the way of many things I feel God calling me to do and am tired of the control it has over my life. To be free from this stronghold....I would shout from the mountaintops of what Gods power has done.  At times I have felt like Peter, in the boat, and Jesus calling him to step out on the water in faith. Why cant I do it, or better, why wont I? It must be fear, to which I am ashamed to confess, especially after ALL the Lord has brought me through the past few years. I consider myself fearless in every area but this.  I humbly ask for prayer from anyone reading this, that the power this has in my mind would be broken and my desire and determination to quit would replace it, in Jesus precious name.  I will be praying for the other's here as well that are struggling, so that together,  WE CAN BE MORE THSN THAN CONQUERORS!!!!!!  Thank you.
October 4, 2015
  • 2
Lorna Smetak
Lorna Smetak Praying for you too. Thank you for praying for me. It is very difficult thing to do.
October 4, 2015
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd Amen, Shelli, I pray that the Lord grants you the grace and strength to conquer this addiction, in the name of Jesus!
October 4, 2015
  • 2
Scott Riegelmann
Scott Riegelmann Thank you pastor for sharing another great testimony! I embarrsed to say I am struggling with smoking I used to chew tobacco but I quit and went to smoking when I was weak emotionally after a divorce I picked up smoking and now Im addicted to nicotene and whatever else is in cigerettes anyway thanx again! sincerely Scott R. Please pray for my deliverence from this nasty addiction thank you.  
October 4, 2015
  • 1
Gretchen Simms
Gretchen Simms I smoked for years.  I lost all hope of ever quitting.  But 4 years ago something changed.  I no longer saw myself as a defeated smoker, but as a delivered one.   I quit one day and never picked up another cigarette.  It was not me or my will power.  Only God can do that.   I still had lots of moments where I wanted one so badly.  But God always intervened at the last moment and said "no child".    When the son sets you free you are free indeed praise His Holy name.   I will be praying for you and am sure lots of others are too.  Hang in there.
October 4, 2015
  • 1
Karen Pasquinelli
Karen Pasquinelli Amen!!! Another GREAT testimony.  
October 4, 2015
  • 2
Eric Rodriguez
Eric Rodriguez   A  M  E  N  !  !  !  
October 4, 2015
  • 2
Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson Amen.
October 4, 2015
  • 1
Cheryl Wilson
Cheryl Wilson Yes Lord, I have desires that need to be removed from me but I will stay steadfast until you deliver me.  In Jesus name, Amen.  
October 4, 2015
  • 1
Kathy Banfield
Kathy Banfield I like the analogy og "hunger'--I can relate! I was able to overcome anorexia and bulimia only when I surrendered my appetite to God; I firmly believe the 12 Step programs work so well because they focus on spiritual recovery as well as the physical and emotional aspects of addiction.I can't, but God CAN!
October 4, 2015
  • 1
Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams Amen.  Praise God!  Thank you!  I can only agree with you in prayer Today Pastor.  I will also share this with about 350 others via my daily scripture text.  Thank God for you!
October 5, 2015
  • 1
Deborah Alexander
Deborah Alexander Amen, Thank you Pastor Todd for an awesome message as always
October 5, 2015
  • 1
Sylvia Schmidt
Sylvia Schmidt timely word pastor. thank you. struggled with temptation yesterday. overcame it thankfully. amen.
October 5, 2015
  • 1
Carolyn Jordan-Daniels
Carolyn Jordan-Daniels Great message.  Temptation comes our way on a daily basis.  Prayer and the willingness to follow God's Word will see you through!
October 5, 2015
  • 1
Lissy Verghese
Lissy Verghese Thank you dear Pastor, for the great message!
October 6, 2015