Our response is different when God speaks, the world tries to entice us, the devil tries to tempt us, or our body tries to push us in a certain direction. We have been looking at how to identify when it is God, our body, the world, or the devil trying to influence us. Now we are examining what our responses should be as we identify various sources of thoughts, feelings, words, and deeds that come our way. Being able to take the appropriate action to the various influences that come to us is vital to the Christian life. Many times we have responded to suggestions and training that came from the world, the devil, and our body and have done the wrong things. Many other times we have had God dealing with us and we have resisted Him rather than yielding to Him. Now that you are a Christian, you and God are working together to change all that.

The Bible is asking you to respond to world opinion with a refusal to conform. It is asking you to always respond to the devil by resisting him. It is asking you to respond to pressure from your body by presenting it as a living sacrifice. And, it is asking you to always respond to the influences of God by yielding to Him.

All four of these sources are trying to get you to take actions concerning yourself, others, and God. The world, the devil, and your body are trying to get you to do things that would hurt you, other people, and God. God is trying to help you to do things that would be beneficial and good for you, other people, and Him. He is pleased and enjoys your life’s activities that help and bless you and others. That is the life we should all want to live.

Pray that God will empower and train you in how to react to every source of influence that comes your way. Ask Him to reveal who or what source is trying to affect your decisions and actions. Then ask Him to give you the wisdom and power to react in a Biblical way to the sources you have identified. Thank Him for helping you always know who or what is the source of all your influences that come to you. Believe He is guiding you in making the right decisions in all situations. Trust Him to always be there, ready to assist you in identifying and properly reacting to all sources speaking to you.