NOVEMBER 27, James 4:7

“Joel, will you please help me with this computer?” called Mom, so Joel went to see what she needed. “I’ve typed my document, but I can’t get it to print,” Mom told him. Joel grinned and tapped a few buttons. Soon the printer was whirring away. “Thank you!” exclaimed Mom. “You’re a big help.”

Later that evening, Joel came home from playing ball with his friends. “Mom, can I talk to you?” he asked hesitantly. “Sure, Joel,” said Mom.“What is it?”

“Well, after the game, some of the kids wanted Tim and Alex and me to go with them and look at a bad website they had found,” replied Joel. “Tim and Alex said no, like it wasn’t a big deal to them. I said no too, Mom, but I really wanted to go. The other guys called us chickens and babies.” Joel cleared his throat. “It wasn’t that I wanted to see that stuff, but I don’t like having the kids make fun of me.” He sighed. “Why is it so easy for Tim and Alex to say no, but not for me?”

Mom gave Joel a hug. “I’m really proud that you didn’t go in spite of how you felt,” she said. “As for Tim and Alex, well, let’s be glad they didn’t seem to be bothered by peer pressure as much as you are. They probably have other temptations that are as hard for them to deal with as this is for you.” “So… something else might be a bigger deal to them than to me?” asked Joel.

“Perhaps.” Mom nodded. “Remember when you helped me with the computer? You knew which buttons to push to get it to print. Well, Satan knows which ‘buttons’ to push to tempt you, he knows your weaknesses. Just like you push different buttons on the computer to have it perform different functions, Satan pushes different ‘weakness-buttons’ to tempt different people.”

“That makes sense.” Joel nodded.

“God also knows our weaknesses,” added Mom. “Let’s trust Him to help all of us to continue following Him and resist temptation.”

Thought: Are there some situations or things that seem to tempt you more than they tempt other kids? Turn to God!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach me to submit to You, and at the same time, to resist the devil. If I do so, I will surely gain victory and not fall into sin. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.