Every single day, we stand between two voices:
😇 The one that whispers truth, peace, and wisdom
🤘 The one that pushes impulse, ego, and old patterns
👁️ And you in the middle — the deciding factor
And this is why James 1:14 stays in my spirit:
“Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own desire and enticed.”
This verse teaches that temptation doesn’t come from other people…
it comes from inside us — our own desires, impulses, and unhealed places.
And that’s exactly what this angel 😇 / devil 🤘 moment represents:
- The angel = conviction
- The devil = temptation
- You in the middle = the deciding factor
- James 1:14 basically says:
- “It’s not the enemy outside you — it’s the desires inside you that pull you off track.”
And this is why that scripture stays in my spirit —
because it reminds me that temptation doesn’t come from the outside.
It comes from my own desires trying to drag me back into old patterns.
The battle is internal.
The decision is mine.
And the consequences follow whichever voice I choose.
Discernment is what helps you make the right choice.
It’s the ability to see what’s true, good, and right even when it’s not obvious.
It’s deeper than reacting and deeper than emotion.
It’s that blend of insight, intuition, and spiritual guidance that helps you slow down and ask:
“Is this the right choice or just the easy one?”
“Is this growth or my desire dragging me?”
Discernment helps you recognize motives, paths, and consequences before you step into them.
It keeps you from bumping your head over and over again.
And let me say this plainly: being stubborn will waste a lot of time in your life.
Life is constantly changing, and the faster you learn, the better off you’ll be.
The quicker you listen, the fewer consequences you’ll have to recover from.
Wisdom doesn’t just protect your future —
it lets you actually enjoy your life instead of spending years fixing avoidable mistakes.
And I can say this because I lived it.
I never thought I knew everything — that was never my issue.
My struggle was believing I couldn’t depend on anyone, so I decided to walk alone.
Not because I was wise, but because I was wounded.
Not because I didn’t need help, but because I didn’t trust it.
And walking alone taught me some hard lessons.
It made me strong, yes — but it also made me stubborn.
It protected me, but it also cost me.
Because independence without discernment becomes isolation,
and isolation will make you carry weights you were never meant to lift by yourself.
Young people — hear me clearly.
If you learn early, you avoid a lot of consequences later.
Don’t be so smart that you stop listening.
Don’t be so grown that you can’t take guidance.
Don’t be so confident that you ignore understanding.
Life will teach you the same lesson over and over
until you finally humble yourself enough to learn it.
Every decision you make shapes the life you live.
Every choice carries a consequence.
And every moment gives you a chance to choose better than you did before.
Choose wisely.
Choose with discernment.
Choose with your future in mind.
Prayer
God, give me the wisdom to recognize the voices that guide me,
the strength to choose what is right over what is easy,
and the discernment to see beyond my desires and into Your truth.
Heal the places in me that react from pain, pride, or fear.
Teach me to listen, to slow down, and to choose with intention.
Protect my steps, guard my heart, and guide my decisions.
And for every young person reading this
cover them with clarity, humility, and understanding
so they don’t have to learn the hard way.
Amen.
SignsOfStrength 
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