Ecstasy vs Joy

Beloved of God,

The devil won't come to you as an ugly, frightening thing.  If he did, he'd be easier to run from.  He would repel our hearts, our eyes would turn away and our feet would flee.  On the contrary, Lucifer was an angel, beautiful and beguiling, and he beckons with a false heaven, a heaven on earth and it is an ecstasy that is hard to resist.  While his right hand creates the hardship, his left hand promises the relief, and we are brought into sin  through our fear and the promise of distraction. Before we know it, the left hand of ruin and the right hand of false promises have trapped us in an unyielding embrace. 

The deceiver is great sex with someone you aren't married to.  He is also the regret, the disease and the life unwanted, maybe destroyed.

The devourer is in the indulgence of daily feasting.  He is also the destruction of your temple, the guilt, the illness.

The destroyer is in the relief of a needle, the cover of smoke and one drink too many.  He is also the loss of finances, family and freedom.

Satan gives little for a short period of time.  What he takes can have consequences into the next generation.

So does that mean there is no hope for a moment of weakness, especially when moments become years and weakness turns into addiction?  Not when God is greater, and He always is.

While the enemy only offers ruin disguised as ecstasy, God offers redemption with eternal promise.  In the devil's attempt to make us feel unworthy, hopeless, guilty, unforgiven and powerless, God offers lessons learned, a testimony and ministry to help others, His strength and healing power and His unfathomable mercy and grace.  What Satan attempts to destroy, Jesus offers the joy of rescue, restoration and relief.

Jesus is the joy of LOVE, for others and beloved, for yourself.

Jesus is the joy of SERVICE, to know your gifts and talents.

Jesus is the joy of REDEMPTION, to trade regret for purpose.

...and it is yours for the asking.  Beloved, in this moment, CHOOSE JOY, and be healed.