If your like me, when you hear the word stealing you might think of a sneaky thief dressed in black stealing a car in the hood. Or someone holding another at gunpoint demanding them to give all their money over to them. You might think to yourself "what a terrible person! How dare they take something that doesn't belong to them! I hope they get caught and thrown into jail!" Its ok to admit to those thoughts. Truth is they are a terrible person for doing such a crime and they do deserve jail time.
If I may, let me for a minute talk about a different way of thinking how one can steal from another person. First, let me just say that if you live on a daily basis serving and trusting Jesus with you life, that means you have given Him your life. It no longer belongs to you. Your life belongs to God because He purchased you on the cross.
Second, your life not only belongs to Jesus but He also wants you to give your life to other people through mercy (acts of unconditional loving-kindness to others in order to fill a need in their lives).
Third, God's Word says that if you belong to Him then satan has to come to Him and get permission to tempt you. His Word also says He uses all things for good because He is all powerful and He is in control of all things.
So, with all that being said, every thought that comes into your mind, God has allowed for some reason. He even allows temptation to enter. He Himself cannot tempt but He does allow us to be tempted. Let's say a man who is trying to live a life of sexual purity notices a woman in a short skirt walk by. He can do one of two things. He can lust after her by allowing fantasy thoughts to enter in his mind and taking those thoughts for his own selfish pleasure.
Or, he can give to her thoughts of what God wants for her. He would want her to have conviction of the way she dresses and for her to be blessed with His mercy and forgiveness. He wants her to have a very close relationship with Jesus. He wants her to have the gift of eternal life. We can always get closer to God even if we are already saved.
He has allowed you to notice that woman for a reason and its not to steal thoughts from her. Not to rob her of prayer, but to give to her the mercy she needs. He has entrusted you with her soul! You may be the only one on the planet with pure thoughts of redemption for that woman. You may be the only one prayer for her. What a responsibility!
Take time today to notice the thoughts that enter your mind and please be intentional and mindful of what you do with those thoughts. You can either rob someone of prayer that is needed or you can give prayer that is desperately needed!
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