I have a Bible verse for us and inside information on a conversation that took place quite some time ago between a pastor and his wife.

“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof” (Romans 13:14).

Pastor Kenward came home from the office and privately shared with his wife about the conversation he had had with a person who had a testimony of knowing the Lord Jesus as her Savior.

He said, “Peggy told me that I could tell you about how greatly she desires to break the habit of smoking. She vividly told me how much she hates this dirty, rotten habit. Nothing would make her happier than when the day comes that she doesn’t smoke anymore. We had a good conversation about putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and what that means. I thought she understood and that things were going well until she told me that she would do everything I said but would keep just one pack of cigarettes in the cupboard, “in case it didn’t work.”

There was silence in the little kitchen of the church parsonage.

Mrs. Kenward broke the silence by saying, “Keeping a pack in case it doesn’t work practically guarantees that it won’t work. Living through the Lord’s power will not make us perfect, but we must submit to Him, seek His power in our lives daily and make no provision for the flesh.”

The pastor’s wife was so very correct.

Please take this with you today: This is important for each of us I want the Lord to help me to become the kind of believer He wants me to be. How about you?