Susan Panzica, Author at Susan Panzica

When the Son don’t shine ~ 3 remedies

Posted on February 3, 2017February 3, 2017 by Susan Panzica

Several years ago, I was asked to speak at a women’s retreat. Their theme was “How to Keep Growing When the Son Don’t Shine.” I struggled with this idea for a while until it struck me – the sun is always shining! We may not see it, but the sun never ceases to shine.

As for the Son, He never ceases to shine either. He IS the light of the world – not He will be nor He was – but He IS the light of the world. Always IS. Present tense. Yesterday, today and forever, He shines!!

So then, why does it seem dark sometimes?

1. One reason is because it is nighttime. At night, the earth is turned away from the sun. And when it seems dark spiritually, perhaps it is because we have turned away from Him. Have we stopped spending time with Him? Are we standing in or relying on our own strength?

The answer is simple: turn our focus back to Him, spend time in the Word and prayer, enjoy the fellowship of believers. I know I said the answer is simple, but that’s just simple for me to say. It is not always easy to do. Just take one tiny baby step in the right direction, and God will meet with us. He may ask us to keep taking those steps, but He gives us the strength to do it as we lean on Him.

“For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” (2 Cor. 4:6-7)

2. Other times, it seems dark because something is blocking the sun, like an eclipse or dark clouds. There are things that seem huge and overwhelming, but the fact is – nothing is bigger than the sun! It’s just that these issues are closer. When is your thumb bigger than the sun? When it’s right in front of your eye! These obstacles capture our attention and block our view of the Son. But if we can step back and put things in the proper perspective, they shrink in comparison.

We are engaged in spiritual warfare, and an effective enemy tactic is to distract our focus. He uses busyness, family or friend problems, work concerns, over-sensitivity, self-consciousness, financial worries, etc. to attract our attention. When we concentrate on eternal matters, the things of this world dim in comparison. Like looking through the lens of a camera, if our focus is on things nearby, those details in the background are fuzzy. When we adjust the lens, we can bring the background into crisp detail, and the close things are less harrowing.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”(Heb. 12:2-3)

3. Lastly, when the sun’s glare is difficult to endure, we put on our sunglasses. We can still see the sun, but it’s dimmed. And people can’t see us as clearly either. We hide behind a façade, and don’t face the issues that keep us from the light. From minor misunderstandings to serious hidden sin, we can cautiously be near God, and yet separated from Him. We put up a barrier to keep God and people at a “safe” distance.

When Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. God removed the barrier to the Holy of Holies signifying our new opportunity to have a direct personal relationship with Jesus.

“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. … All of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the works within us, we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more.” ( 2 Cor. 3:16-18)

Oh, may we become more like Him and reflect His glory more and more!! That is my prayer for you and for me, beloved.

Start or Stop?

Posted on January 18, 2017January 18, 2017 by Susan Panzica

Our patient, Angelo, is a super athlete, a long distance bike racer, who has accomplished what many never dreamed of. He had an appointment scheduled at our chiropractic office one day, but left a message that he wouldn’t be able to make it. It seems that while on a practice run with 20+other bikers, he was hit and dragged by a bus, severely injured. Remarkably, he had called us from his hospital bed, but he has no memory of calling. After extensive surgery, he needed to learn how to walk again. It seemed that bike riding was out of his future.

But not for Angelo.

That was over a year ago, and he is back in training. At his visit to our office yesterday, he expressed his concerns with getting back in the race. Then I overheard him say, “But I have the gear.” Yes, but he also had the fear. As his muted conversation continued, I overhead him again. “It’s the start that stops most people.”*

I’m not one for eavesdropping, especially on patient’s care. These were after-adjustment conversations with open doors. And I’m so glad his words drifted my way. I was so inspired by his outlook that I asked if I could write about and quote him.

He gave credit to Dr. Rob Gilbert for the start-stop quote*, and shared his favorite Gilbert quote: “The ten most powerful two letter words – If it is to be, it is up to me.”* And he added one more quote for good measure:

Continue reading “Start or Stop?”

One Word for 2017

Posted on January 5, 2017January 5, 2017 by Susan Panzica

For the past few years, I’ve been part of a growing trend – to select one word for the year, rather than set a bunch of resolutions likely doomed to failure.

I thought the one word concept would work for me. And often throughout the year, it does. My word can serve as a little bird that flutters in my brain at the point of decision making, keeping me on track. Or it can serve as a sit-down-and-contemplate-for-a- while-experience. Previous one-words for me include: Now, Faithfulness, Obey, Purpose.

To be honest, each year I fell short of my one little word. These words, all of them, were intended to spur me on to good works and help me stay on track of projects. They were to inspire my actions, to be purposeful, faithful, and obedient. Instead, too often I was distracted, disillusioned, or downright disobedient. At those times, I wavered between (1) berating myself for my lack of discipline and (2) remembering that in His grace, God still loves me, yet feeling like I disappointed Him.

I considered not choosing a word this year, right along with not making resolutions that I’d fail at anyway. But during this period of contemplation, I had a realization. It occurred to me that each of my words, strong and worthy as they were, focused on my efforts and achievement. They required the work of my will to be fullfilled.

I decided to change my focus. My word for this year is WORSHIP.

Rather than striving in my strength, I will seek the Lord on His holy hill. I will breathe in the Spirit. I will let Him guide me in these decisions. And all my actions will flow FROM His leading, rather than striving in my own strength and marginal wisdom.

Growing up, I attended Hebrew school and learned Jewish prayers that almost always start this way:

ברוך אתה ה’ אלהינו, מלך העולם…

Transliteration: Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha`olam…

Translation: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe…”

Before asking for anything, we worshipped God. I’ve now printed out these words and posted them by my desk so that I have the reminder to worship throughout the day.

I realize that I still need to be obedient to His calling, but if my focus is on Him, I anticipate He will direct me. Both the words “discipline” and “disciple” share the same root: learner. If I am a disciple, I will allow my Teacher to lead me, and the discipline will flow.

Ultimately, for me, my purpose is to bring an eternal perspective to everything here on earth. There is an overarching purpose for each of our lives, and the daily circumstances and roles we play are small ingredients in much larger divine recipe. As I learn to keep my focus on the eternal in worship, I trust that God will direct me in everything I do and in every relationship I have.

Do you have a word for the year? What is it? And why?

What’s the rush??

Posted on December 22, 2016 by Susan Panzica

illustration by Zach Brose for "Mary had a little Lamb" by Susan Panzica http://amzn.to/2eCjadI — illustration by Zach Brose for “Mary had a little Lamb” by Susan Panzica http://amzn.to/2eCjadI

So they hurried off

and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby,

who was lying in the manger. Luke 2:16

Hurry. It seems that’s all we do lately. And so we are often encouraged to slow down, be still.

And yet there is a time to hurry-
~Zacchaeus, filled with curiosity, hurried ahead to climb a tree so he could see Jesus.
~The father, filled with compassion, ran to welcome his prodigal home.
~Mary and the women, filled with confusion, ran to the disciples – who ran to the empty tomb.
~Philip, filled with the Spirit, ran to the chariot to share the Word with the Ethiopian.

And the shepherds, filled with wonder after their heavenly host encounter, hurried to Bethlehem, ran to see Jesus.

When should we hurry?
~When it is running to Jesus!
~When it is hurrying to show compassion.
~When it is eagerly sharing the Word.

After they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.
Then they returned [to their neighborhood, their work, their environment] glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Solomon said, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” I’m going to boldly add to his list in Eccl. 3:1-8: There is a time to hurry and a time to be still. Oh that we would know the difference!

Do you (like me) ever confuse when to be busy and when to be still?
What do you do about it?

To purchase "Mary had a little Lamb" by Susan Panzica, visit: http://amzn.to/2eCjadI — To purchase “Mary had a little Lamb” by Susan Panzica, visit: http://amzn.to/2eCjadI

How Can This Be?

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Susan Panzica

Has a phone call or conversation ever delivered incomprehensible news and you wondered, “How can this be?”

You’re not alone…

http://www.freebibleimages.org/photos/zechariah-john/ — image courtesy: The Lumo Project

A devout priest, Zechariah was a descendent of Aaron. When his priestly division was on duty at the Temple in Jerusalem, he was chosen to enter the Holy Place. A religious man, schooled in the Scriptures, he was in a religious place where one would expect to encounter God.

Yet, when the angel appeared to him, standing beside the altar of incense, Zechariah trembled, gripped in fear. Gabriel comforted Zechariah, telling him not to be afraid and providing the reason for his visit. He was delivering good news. Zechariah’s elderly wife, Elizabeth, would bear them a son. Not just any son, but a son to be named John, who would be filled with the Holy Spirit and would prepare the people for the Messiah who was also coming to the world.

When Zechariah heard Gabriel’s words, he questioned him. “How can this be?” as he and his wife were well along in years and therefore could not bear a child. Gabriel discerned that Zechariah didn’t believe, and condemned him to silence until at the baby’s birth Zechariah demonstrated obedience by naming him John.

Mary also had a visit from the angel Gabriel. She wasn’t near the temple, but in a lowly village in Galilee, called Nazareth. She wasn’t schooled in the Scriptures. She was a simple devout young woman engaged to be married.

Gabriel greeted her, stating that she was highly favored and the Lord was with her. Troubled at his words (but not at the sight of him), he told her not to be afraid of what would happen to her, that she would miraculously bear a child. Hearing his words, Mary asked, “How can this be?” as a virgin cannot bear a child. Gabriel, discerning that she didn’t understand, explained to her about the Holy Spirit coming upon her, affirming that “nothing is impossible with God.” Mary responded in faith, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”

Two appearances of the angel Gabriel
– One is the place of highest esteem, the Temple’s Holy Place
– One in the lowest of villages (Can anything good come out of Nazareth? John 1:46)

Two expressing the same question, “How can this be?”
– One an unbelieving, though devout, old man
– One a believing, devout young woman

Two different responses by the angel to that same question
– One was rendered speechless for at least 9 months
– One was provided an answer to her question

So what can we glean from this?

Just because we are in a religious place doesn’t make us holy. You may have heard the saying, “Just because you are in a garage doesn’t make you a car.” Despite Zechariah’s expectation of meeting with God in the Holy Place, he was shocked and terrified at seeing the angel. Mary, however, fully experienced the presence of God in the humblest of locations. Unlike real estate, when it comes to experiencing God, physical location seems to be of little consequence.

What is of great consequence is the state of our heart. We can live a life as “devout and blameless” as Zechariah and still miss God. While it is fitting to “study to show ourselves approved,” it must not be just head-knowledge. Let the simple faith of a young virgin inspire our desire to know Him, and to be willing to serve Him in whatever way He leads.

Fortunately, Zechariah’s song (Luke 1:67-79) makes it clear that he now possessed great understanding and belief in how his child would fulfill the Messianic prophesies. This encourages me to realize that even when I stumble, there always remains hope in the future to make it right.

In her song (Luke 1:46-55), Mary doesn’t appear to have the depth of comprehension that Zechariah had regarding the coming of the Messiah. What she does have is the simple understanding that she is blessed because He was “mindful of her, His servant.”

“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” Luke 1:45

Do you believe that He will accomplish what He said? Then you are blessed! When we ask the Lord, “How can this be?” let us be sure to ask with the heart of Mary, believing and trusting.

To watch my interview on FoxNews.com with Lauren Green, please click here.

To order Mary had a little Lamb, please click here or on the box below.

Are you expecting?

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Susan Panzica

Are you expecting?

Those words could be a thrill – or – they could strike fear in your heart.

It all depends upon what you are expecting.

2000 years ago, there was an expectation in the land of Israel that the Messiah would be coming (Luke 3:15). For 400 years (twice as long as the United States has existed!), there had been no spoken or written word from God. The prophecies pointed to this time in history as the time when their fulfillment would occur. The anticipation was palpable. How would the Messiah come? Who would He be? Would He meet their expectations?

Flash forward 2000 years. The church calendar recognizes the season before Christmas as Advent (from the Latin word, adventus, meaning “coming”). Traditionally, Advent commences on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day. It is a season of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus.

This Advent season, what are you expecting?

If you were you expecting a season of stress, perhaps this will be the year that those expectations will not be met!

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2

As a photographer adjusts the lens of her camera, adjust the lens of your expectations. When the circumstances of your life, the things that are so close – the earthly things – are in crisp focus, everything else is out of focus. But by adjusting our lens, we can bring into crisp focus the things of God – the things above. Then the things of earth are not so defined. We can still see them; we know they are there, but they no longer are our focus.

When we seek Him, we will find Him. We can find Him in the midst of our circumstances. We can find Him outside of our circumstances. He is never hard to find. If we are looking in the right places. Tweet this!

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before You

and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3

Lord, we are expecting…. We are expecting to sense Your presence over these December days. We expect to see You exalted among Your people. We expect to be at peace as we keep our focus on You. Thank you, Jesus!

The Aftermath

Posted on November 9, 2016November 9, 2016 by Susan Panzica

For the past few months, I repeatedly read and heard people say, “I can’t wait for Nov. 9 for all this to be over!!”

Well, it is Nov. 9. And nothing is over. It’s just beginning.

I wrote this post yesterday – on Election Day – without knowing who won the election. But some things I do know about my tomorrow – The Day After.

There are a lot of unhappy people now. Half our nation is reeling that their candidate lost the election and are imagining the worst case scenarios.

There are a lot of happy people now. Their candidate won, and they picture their agendas coming to pass over the next few years.

What can these happy and unhappy people agree on?

Whether people are pleased or not with the election outcome, all will agree that this was an historic American election. Either the first woman president will be inaugurated. Or a non-politician Washington outsider will be.

And I think most people will agree that this nation is polarized. People are climbing into their bunkers of ideology shooting barbs at enemy combatants with differing opinions, forgetting that their enemies are also created by the same God, whether they know it or not.

My ministry tagline is “Bringing an eternal perspective to earthly matters.” And I think that this perspective is needed now more than ever. So to bring that eternal perspective, let me share some historical and biblical truths.

Persecution and governments hostile to the gospel have not hindered the growth of the church.
- When Paul appealed to Caesar in Act 25, he was appealing his case to Nero, arguably “most despicable manifestations of human flesh ever to disgrace this planet”. The Apostle presented his case to a governmental authority riddled with corruption and hatred for the gospel.
- Romans threw Christians to the lions, which did not extinguish Christianity but strengthened the believers’ faith.
- Persecution in Jerusalem caused the church to grow and spread (Acts 8:1)
- The church is growing in China, Africa, other persecuted areas while it is shrinking in the US, a supposedly “Christian nation.”

As citizens of heaven, our trust is in an eternal government led by God, not by mankind.
- “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control….” Phil 3:20-21

God calls us to obedience to those in authority.
- “All authority come from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” Rom. 13:1
- “Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as sent by him” 1 Pet. 2:13-14

We are to pray for those in authority, and we will live in peace if we do.
- “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.” 1 Tim. 2:1-2
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!” Phil. 4:6-7

God is in control whether we believe it or not. He rules the universe with precision, keeping billions of molten stars, planets, and galaxies in perfect order. God will still be in control no matter who leads this small patch of the universe.
- “For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.” Ps. 22:28
- “…putting everything in subjection under his feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.” Heb. 2:8

He knew who would be elected, even planned it, no matter how ungodly you think the candidate may be.
- “The Lord Almighty has sworn,’Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen.’” Is. 14:24
- The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. Prov. 16:4

As I said in the beginning of this post, when the election is over, it isn’t the end. It’s the beginning. It is incumbent upon us to be people that represent God well. We must demonstrate the love of Christ that is in our hearts. We have it in our power to bring healing to a country divided. I’ve heard people say that if ____ gets elected, I’m leaving the country. To that I say, don’t leave – the country needs you now more than ever.

Let us be salt and light, making our voices heard with respect for our opponents.

Let our conversation be gracious and attractive so that we will have the right response for everyone. Col. 4:6

Let us be ambassadors for a loving, compassionate God.

When God Was A Mouse

Posted on October 21, 2016October 21, 2016 by Susan Panzica

My daughter’s fingers, like tiny talons, bore into my flesh. Her eyes widened with terror, tears welled behind a fringe of lashes. As we disembarked the tot-sized train and headed toward the entrance, I spied the source of her panic. There, at the gate to the Magic Kingdom, stood a mob of behemoth Disney characters. As the other children flew off the train, flailing wildly toward the costumed crowd, Lauren’s steps decelerated to a stop.

For years, Lauren dreaded these larger-than-life costumed characters. No amount of explaining could remove her fright. After being allowed to zip up the dad’s Barney attire at a friend’s birthday celebration, she froze when he later danced into the party room. At a local kiddy amusement park, she released a blood-curdling howl during the Three Little Pigs show before bolting out of the arena.

Now her worst nightmare materialized before her eyes. The other children hugged and danced with Beauties and Beasts, gigantic chipmunks, ducks, and mice. But as Lauren slowly retreated from the scene, one small mouse slipped away from the pack. The green-kerchiefed mouse, a diminutive Cinderella aide, sensed my daughter’s trepidation and gently moved toward her, knelt down and spread open her arms. And she waited. And waited more, arms spread wide. She wooed Lauren to her without a word. Ever so slowly, Lauren approached the silent mouse, and eventually, she nestled into her as Miss Mouse tenderly held her.

My eyes welled up witnessing this scene. I can never express the depth of gratitude I have for the person inside that mouse costume. And for the lesson she taught me. More than a moment in a child’s life, this event symbolized the actions taken by God the Son 2000 years ago.

Jesus left His rightful place at the entrance to the Kingdom to get closer to those who foolishly feared the Father. He humbled Himself, descending to live with His creation. He opened His arms wide to allow us to draw near to Him, enveloping us with His love.

The incarnation reveals God to us in a way that we can easily accept. In Jesus, God took on human nature so that He would die for our sins as a fellow human. But also He became approachable in His humanity. God is not just a harsh judge dispensing punishment. He is also our Advocate who loves us. He is the ruler of the cosmos, but He personally and intimately knows all our needs. He is so large that the universe cannot contain Him. But He can be so small that He can fit inside our hearts.

Won’t you draw near to Him and nestle in His loving arms? He’s waiting for you.

Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings… Heb. 10:22

For more on the incarnation, please check out my page Mary Had A Little Lamb. Available on my website or Amazon.com.

To Provoke or Not To Provoke

Posted on October 5, 2016October 5, 2016 by Susan Panzica

Watching the political debates evokes the word “provoke.” Personal conversations and social media interactions are filled with words and emotions that “provoke” each other. In our church’s marriage group, we discussed how we might “provoke” our spouses. So I did a little research on this difficult word.

The dictionary defines provoking as:

to anger, enrage, exasperate, or vex
to stir up, arouse, or call forth
to incite or provide the needed stimulus for action
to give rise to, induce, or bring about

By this definition, provoking can be good or bad. It depends on who’s getting “vexed” or the action that is stimulated. To me, the word “provoke” always had a negative connotation. But looking at this list, I see that Jesus was a provoker in every category:

He angered the religious leaders of the day, pointing out their folly.
He aroused the crowds and called forth disciples.
He stimulated people to action, leaving home and families to follow Him.
He brought about a transformation that changed the course of history.

Here’s a few do’s and don’ts from the Word regarding provoking:

Don’t provoke the Lord to jealousy. The Israelites did this repeatedly in the Old Testament, following after kings and other gods, losing sight of the One who deserved their love and full attention. Paul asked the believers, “Do you dare to provoke the Lord’s jealousy as Israel did? Do you think you are stronger than He is?”1 Cor. 10:22
Don’t provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph. 6:4) lest they be discouraged (Col. 3:21)
DO provoke one another to love and good works! (Heb. 10:24) The NLT translates this verse: “Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds.”I love that – outbursts of love!

So, let’s start provoking! Let us stir up love, encourage good works, speak up for those who cannot. What can 1 person do? Start with your family. Provoke those around you to love and good works. Start a transformation that can change the course of history!

The Lure of Attraction

Posted on September 14, 2016September 14, 2016 by Susan Panzica

2016-08-28-bee-in-flower-heb-2-18a — Marginal Way, Ogunquit, ME

On vacation last month, I was playing with the camera settings on my cell phone, trying out the “selective focus mode,” wanting to look like a halfway decent photographer. And I got the shot! But I got something else too. Something not so welcome.

See the bee inside the flower? Well that little guy hitchhiked home with me! When I got back to the quiet of our hotel room, I heard a faint buzzing sound. At first I thought it was the radio of the next door neighbors. But it seemed too close to me. I checked my ipad and phone to see if there was something playing inadvertently. But no. I couldn’t find the source of the buzzing.

So I ignored it.

To my regret.

Seconds later, I felt a sharp pain at my waist. I pulled at my shorts and shirt, and out flew the hitchhiker, right out the back door!

The pain increased exponentially as a red circle began to grow around the stinger. But Tony, my hero husband, came to the rescue, removing the venom and washing it down the sink. Within a few hours, the pain, redness, and swelling were completely gone. There’s just a dot left where the stinger remains.

And of course, some life lessons remain with me too:

Don’t get too close to trouble. Satan entices us with pretty little attractions. Lures that become dangerous temptations. When we draw too close to a dangerous or forbidden thing, person, or activity, we lose sight of the bigger picture. When we indulge in pride, envy, bitterness, any fruit of the flesh, it becomes an unholy dalliance. Our “selective focus” tunes out the warnings in our spirit.
Hear the warnings, and heed the warnings. I heard the buzzing, but thought it was a harmless distraction. I didn’t pay attention to the possible consequences until it was too late. When that little nudge in your spirit says “don’t,” beware and be aware. Stop, look, and listen hard.
Once stung, repent! Get as far away from the situation as possible, and turn to the Helper (John 16:7). Fortunately, Tony was able to reverse most of the effects of the poison. When we confess, Jesus forgives us, taking our mistakes, our failures, our transgressions, and cleansing us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9).
Consequences remain. Although the sting is gone, a scar remains. It’s both a physical and spiritual truth that we reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7). The pain from broken trust in relationships often lingers long after reconciliation. There may be limits, boundaries that we didn’t require before, but now need in place to keep us free from temptation.

Father, we’re so thankful to live under Your grace. May we never take it for granted. Let us strive to live holy lives, pleasing in Your sight, and keeping our eyes on You. “…and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” Matt. 6:12-13

Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13