I suspect you have a car sitting in your garage, driveway, or the parking lot. Under the hood of that car rests an engine. Almost every day you climb into the car (truck or van), insert the key in the ignition, and start the engine. That activity involves faith in the car, key, and motor. There may be days when the car is dirty and doesn't look as if it would go anywhere. On other occasions you may not feel like driving it anywhere. But regardless of how the car looks or how you feel, if the automobile is in operating order and you turn the ignition key, the engine will start. The car will take you where you want to go.

Christ's power over sin won't do you any good unless you utilize it. You do that by knowing that all that's true of Him is true of you and by trusting Him to live His life through you. How do you exercise faith in your car? You get in it, start the engine, and drive away. Your faith is demonstrated by your actions. Similarly, you exercise faith in Christ by looking to Him when you're tempted, and trusting Him for the power you need to obey...in His grip.

Coach's tip - Begin with praise and honest appreciation. Beginning with praise is like the dentist who begins his work with Novocain. The patient still gets a drilling, but the Novocain is pain-killing. Dale Carnegie

excerpt from When Good Men Are Tempted by Bill Perkins, Zondervan - available at Wits End