Journal from January 18th, 2026

I am grateful to have a place to work out of the cold, and to have the new custom baseboards stained and ready to install in the exercise room.

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 10:11-13

And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Matthew 6:13

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

James 1:13-15

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4:15

Me: Good morning, Father!

Abba: Good morning, Jon!

Me: Thank You for leading me through these scriptures! I have long been puzzled by Jesus teaching us to pray, “lead us not into temptation” in light of some of the other passages.

Abba: Jesus was recognizing the need for His followers to not face temptation alone, whether internal or external, but to humbly rely on Me. 1 Corinthians 10 tells you that I will be faithful in answering that prayer.

Think about this: As James observes that “God cannot be tempted”, then if your actions and the very thoughts of your heart are yielded to the Holy Spirit, then where would sin, or even the temptation to sin abide? This is why there is an exhortation to not “quench” the Spirit!

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

See how this passage points to the depths of the heart; these are not intermittent activities: pray without ceasing, rejoice always, in everything give thanks, test all things, hold fast to what is good, abstain from every form of evil. These are only possible in a life wholly given to Me. We are not speaking of a divided purpose.

Again, James captured this.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:2-8

Me: Thank You Father! I pray You will continue to help me grow in Your steadfastness and the purposes of Your heart. I love You!

Abba: You are welcome. I Am. I love you!