Successfully Fighting the Devil Part II.

1 Peter 5:8
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

If you're still having a hard time seeing past Satan's temptations and schemes, try take the situation to the extreme. Oftentimes, if you just focus on what's in front of us, you will be deceived. However, if you walk down situation avenue, and do a play-by-play for a couple different scenarios, then it is much easier to distinguish between right and wrong.

The enemy may be taunting you saying, "C'mon, if you just do it this once, it won't matter. Besides, it'll be fun." It may be easier to commit to this sin if you only see the devil's side, so that's why it's suggested you look at the extreme. Let's take drinking alcohol to the extreme. Is it really going to be fun when you become an addict and it ruins your life? I don't think so. That's what I mean when I say play the scenarios in your head to decide yes or no. The general rule of thumb is that when something is bad in extreme portions, a little bit isn't good either. The devil loves to make you think that you control anything at anytime. In other words, you can stop sinning if you want. Don't believe this, as good as it sounds!

Imagine if everyone looked at the extreme in order to make the right decision. The world would arguably be a better place. Think about love. If that's taken to the extreme, there wouldn't be any more violence, hate, prejudice, or war. Therefore, taking things to the extreme can not only help you see what Satan is up to, but also God's loving truth.

"Sin is like chocolate covered dog poop. Seriously! When you look at it from a distance, it looks like chocolate. You pick it up, and it feels like chocolate. You bring it closer, and it even smells like chocolate. You take a nibble on the outer chocolate covering, and it even tastes like chocolate. But once you dive in, you are in for a big surprise. Satan is always going to package sin to make it look good. But when you dive in, it will never be what you were hoping for." ~Mike Guzzardo

P.S. Take at least a few minutes today and remember those who died on this day nine years ago.