Blog Post
Posted by Dion Todd January 30th, 2025 911 Views 26 Comments
God said, "Let's make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." God created man in his own image. In God's image he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27 WEB.
I love cars, always have. When I was younger, I used to have several project cars I tinkered with. I spent a lot of time in junkyards, searching for parts like I was on a treasure hunt. One of my projects was an old Pontiac Grand Prix that I was slowly restoring. I started with a shell and hand-picked all the parts. I had refreshed a big block 400 engine that I pulled from a 69 and a custom-built transmission from a 72. I put it all together and installed a new dual exhaust system, and she was riding on a set of BFGoodrich T/A radials. The old Pontiac was coming back to life. She was clean and mean.
Unfortunately, I lived with someone who would try and destroy something that I cared about whenever she became angry, which was pretty often. When I had the Grand Prix close to finished, I came home one day to find that she had spray-painted profanity all over the car. She had painted over the windows, chrome, bumpers, grille, rims, and tires with expletives in bright neon pink. I sold the car that afternoon to a junkman to get it out of the yard because I was ashamed for my neighbors, friends, and family to see it.
Yet, the story doesn't end there. It should have, but it didn't. Over time, I watched her beat the windows out of my cars with shovels, kick dents in the fenders and door panels, and ram them with my other vehicles. It was an uncontrollable jealous rage, but she couldn't take her anger out on me directly. So the way that she hurt me was to attack something that I cared about.
We are made in the image of God, and He loves us. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16). God is big and strong, so satan can't stand up to Him. Instead of attacking God, he takes his anger out on something God loves: Us. Every time we fall into one of the enemy's traps, he is filled with happiness because it hurts God a little more. This is his way of getting back at God by attacking those God cares about.
For example, King David had Uriah killed and took his wife Bathsheba to be his own wife. So the Lord sent the prophet Nathan to David, who told him this:
"Because by this deed you have given great occasion to Yahweh's enemies to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die" (2 Samuel 12:14).
When satan got David, the great man of God, to fall into his trap, it gave the enemies of God "great occasion" to blaspheme, curse, and laugh. Overall, the enemies of God loved it, and they celebrated a victory.
Your actions and choices affect more than you, for there is a spiritual battle raging on in the spirit realm. Stay close to God. Don't be used as a tool to hurt Him by falling into temptation. Though sin may look pleasurable, it's nothing but a trap designed to trash the image of God one more time.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help me stand strong and see the road ahead clearly. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one. Protect me from my own weaknesses, and let me never give Your enemies a reason to rejoice. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Note: Today is Thankful Thursday at the Ministry Events group! This event gives us an opportunity encourage each other by posting thoughts, moments, and prayers of gratitude for Him, His creation and all that He does in our lives. All our welcome! To join, just click on the group name and then the join link on the page that will follow. As always, if you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network.
Post from Marisa Jackson
10 hours ago
Dear Father in Heaven, the enemy is constantly trying to lure us your children into a vicious cycle of deceit, as well as make our lives purely uncomfortable; however, I believe in Jesus who is Our Savior and there is NOTHING the enemy can say or do that can pull us away from You. I pray for our nation as we are in crisis here and all over the world. May our Savior Jesus continue to shine and continue to give us the hope that we ALL will live in peace and eternity with You forever and ever, Amen 🙏🙏!! Alleulia 🙏❤️🙏!! Amen 🙏❤️🙏!! Blessings to you ALL 🥰!!
Heavenly Father Please Help Me Stand Strong.Please Protect Me From My Own Weaknesses And Never Give Your Enemies A Reason To Rejoice Amen Good Morning Everyone 😀
Good morning, y'all, may you have a most blessed Thursday! 💛🙏🌞
Comment from Dan Remley
2 hours ago
You pastor Dion and our beautiful RHM family have the most wonderful day. I love all of you.❤️
Comment from Lynn Brown
7 hours ago
Happy Thursday RHM!🌷
Post from Stephanie Cusato
10 hours ago
I needed this reminder and encouragement! Been getting passive-aggressive attacks from people; especially one God warned me about; I was getting so mad, wanting to not let them win by taking it and being the bigger person. I confessed my turmoil to my husband because it was bothering me, even after prayer I had to tell a person. Thank you Lord for your message, thank you for encouraging us to not give the enemy what he wants. Thank you for correcting and warning us. Give us your strength, wisdom, peace, discernment, and focus on you! I pray this for me , my husband, and all my rhm family. amen!!
Comment from Dan Remley
2 hours ago
Amen Stephanie. I pray that the Lord brings you peace in regards to what is bothering you. Don't let anyone steal your joy ❤️
Wow!! What a message!! All the things you have been through in your life is a testament of how God was preparing you to be a minister to us , the broken and the hurting!! The Holy Spirit uses you in my life almost every day!!
Comment from Dan Remley
2 hours ago
I agree Audrey. Pastor Dion's devotionals have been a very positive impact on my life. This one is something to always think about and help us to stay away from evil. It's going to help us all be better. ❤️
This has got to be the best one I have read yet. It's something to think about when evil comes calling. To think about how Satan is rejoicing at your actions when he defeats you. Also how it's not only affecting you. It affects God and everyone who loves you. Lord please give me strength and courage to stand up to evil. Please remind me how this is going to affect You in a bad way. I want to make you proud of me always. Amen ❤️
Pastor's Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help me stand strong and see the road ahead clearly. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one. Protect me from my own weaknesses, and let me never give Your enemies a reason to rejoice. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!,
Before my grandfather passed away, he had a Tempest which, I think, was a Pontiac.
This is what I googled and learned: Pontiac
The Tempest was the result of a decision by the Pontiac division to enter the compact car market following the success of the Chevrolet Corvair. The division wanted to produce a clone of the Corvair, but instead GM gave Pontiac the lead to develop a new car in an interdivisional program coded named "X-100." John Z.
Amen
Heavenly Father, please help me stand strong and see the road ahead clearly. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one. Protect me from my own weaknesses, and let me never give Your enemies a reason to rejoice. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Amen!
Post from Schalk de Beer
8 hours ago
Yes Lord, I pray this in Jesus's name, amen.
Good morning RHM friends! ❣️Thank you for your word of testimony, Pastor. This is a good illustration of how we as sinful people let the enemy trick us into terrible actions.
I prayed for this person's soul, that was unreal.... How lost she was.
Hope everyone has a blessed day. God bless you all!
Praise the Lord. Amen.🙏🙏
Heavenly Father, please help me stand strong and see the road ahead clearly. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one. Protect me from my own weaknesses, and let me never give Your enemies a reason to rejoice. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
Post from Theresa Bright
10 hours ago
Thank you Lord for another day. I pray in Jesus name. Amen 🙏🏻
Great share bro. D, may the Lord continue to bless ur ministry, you and ur family!!😀
Post from Candy Laventure
10 hours ago
Amen!
Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil, all the days of my Life! In your name, Jesus, Amen and Amen!
Post from Bella Colliander
11 hours ago
Amen!🙏🕊️
Amen! 🙏🏼
Amen!
Amen!
Post from Kay Collinsworth
12 hours ago
Amen
Post from Celeste Strenn
12 hours ago
Amen🌼
Amen
Comment from Dan Remley
2 hours ago
This is a wonderful prayer Marisa. Amen ❤️