I was out for a jog this week, and suddenly noticed that I was running through a large patch of bees, hundreds of them swarming at ground level, feeding on something that had fallen from the trees.
     I was anticipating painful stings, but none came.  The moment that all was clear, I thought, “Wow….I must be doing something right, I must be under God’s blessing,  no stings!”   Do you know what happened next?  Yes, and it hurt.   My mistake was the subtle “I” in my thinking.  Pride comes before a fall (Prov. 16:18).     “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!”  (1 Cor 10:12-13)
     On these truths I was thinking as I jogged back on the same path.   It was a good time of reflection and prayer.  As I ran and thought and prayed, I forgot about those bees.  I’ve forgotten things before, a strength of mine.    This time, however, when I was suddenly in the midst of the stinging warriors, I cried out, “HELP, Lord, only by your grace am I going to escape this again.”
     I took a leap to the side and avoided the stingers, much like God has so often enabled me to do with the sting of temptation.  It worked,  God provided a way out.  No stings.  Thanks, Lord.