Pastor John Ortberg wrote:

He had Abraham take a walk, Elijah take a nap, Joshua take a lap, and Adam take the rap.
He gave Moses a forty-year time out, he gave David a harp and a dance, and he gave Paul a pen and a scroll.
He wrestled with Jacob, argued with Job, whispered to Elijah, warned Cain, and comforted Hagar.
He gave Aaron an altar, Miriam a song, Gideon a fleece, Peter a name, and Elisha a mantle.
Jesus was stern with the rich young ruler, tender with the woman caught in adultery, patient with the disciples, blistering with the scribes, gentle with the children, and gracious with the thief on the cross.

God never grows two people the same way.

Whatever God uses to grow you, growing occurs as God chips away what is present now so that God can shape you into who and what God wants you to be. What are some things God’s chipping away in your life? Where are some areas where God is adding into your life.

What is God doing in your life to grow you?

“Do not give the devil a foothold…” (Ephesians 4:27).

The Greek word for foothold is topon. It comes from the Greek word meaning “place” or “space”. The Greek word topos literally means a location, a plot of space.

It is interesting that the Bible translators have been translating this word as “foothold.” The imagery is someone wanting to close the door but another person places their foot on the ground jamming the door. Even if the person who puts their foot on the ground jamming the door is a much smaller person, the door is effectively closed.

The question is, then, how do Christians give the devil a foothold? It begins with our thoughts. When we entertain thoughts that are ungodly, thoughts contrary to the truths of scripture, those very thoughts begin to shape our view of reality. And, soon, we begin believing lies so that we are no longer able to differentiate between truths and lies.

Elisabeth Elliot writes, “Spiritual strongholds begin with a thought. One thought becomes a consideration. A consideration develops into an attitude which leads to action. Action repeated becomes a habit, and a habit establishes a power base for the enemy. That is a stronghold.”

She’s right. Sinful strongholds all begin with sinful thoughts.

Do not give the devil a foothold. Snip it in the bud. You, and only you, are the only person who can control what your mind thinks about and dwells on. Start shaping your mind with the truths of scripture so that you can identify the lies of the devil.

Finally, when the FBI trains their agents to identify counterfeit bills, they don’t study counterfeit bills. They spend thousands of hours with the real bills. When they come to know the original well, they can see a counterfeit from a mile away.

Get to know the real thing. Get in God’s word.

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, but and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good” (Isaiah 55:1-2).

I always knew diet mattered.

I always knew my three to four cheeseburgers and fries a week would catch up to me. Actually, it didn’t catch up to me. I was almost forty pounds more than what I currently weigh. I wasn’t exercising. I was stressed. I didn’t sleep enough. And then, I almost died. I had two heart attacks and survived to have a quadruple bypass when I was 38 years old.

I always knew what I ate mattered.

I changed my diet. Watched what I ate. Exercise more. Watch my levels of stress. And I am much healthier now.

But here’s the thing. Diet is not only about what we eat. It’s also about what we watch, what we listen to, what we read, what we allow ourselves to believe, the company we keep. Garbage in: garbage out. Healthy in: health is the result. God-honoring thoughts in: God-honoring life.

Of course, you already knew all this.

Be mindful of the things you put into your body emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

God invites you to start by digesting his word. Drink in his Spirit. Eat and be satisfied.