Temptation
Whether you've been saved for 6 minutes or 60 years, all Christian women face temptations in their daily lives. Each individual woman have some temptations that are easily to overcome and others that are terribly difficult to deal with. While we tend to think of sexual temptation first, many women battle laziness, gossip, depression and many varied sins of the flesh.
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. James 1:12-14
Enduring temptation means getting beyond the lust of the flesh at that particular moment without giving in to it. This can be terribly difficult when we're bombarded with images, words and attitudes everywhere we go. Add in the "need" to satisfy a momentary desire and the brain gets overloaded.
There are hundreds of choices to make every day - will I follow what I know God would have me do, or will I stray off and fulfill some temptation in front of me? These decisions can weigh heavily when they affect not only ourselves but those around us.
But the Scriptures say that, despite our weak flesh, there are ways to overcome the temptation of the world.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
God gives us the opportunity to turn our backs on the temptation and walk the other way. It shouldn't be any surprise when we're confronted by our weaknesses, but it takes a conscious effort to look for the way to escape that God has promised.
The greater good that the Lord has planned for us does not include our choosing to go against His commandments. Using His own Word as a weapon against temptation is one of the tools He has provided us in our daily walk. If you've been reading Scripture on a daily basis, you've already stored up hundreds of Scripture that fight the evil of temptation with the voice of truth.
We are never left to fend for ourselves - we serve a faithful God Who desires the very best out of our lives. What seems overwhelming to us isn't even a challenge to our Heavenly Father. Staying close to Him and drawing on His strength and power can give us the confidence we need, and the loyalty to Him, to turn away from those difficult temptations.
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. James 1:12-14
Enduring temptation means getting beyond the lust of the flesh at that particular moment without giving in to it. This can be terribly difficult when we're bombarded with images, words and attitudes everywhere we go. Add in the "need" to satisfy a momentary desire and the brain gets overloaded.
There are hundreds of choices to make every day - will I follow what I know God would have me do, or will I stray off and fulfill some temptation in front of me? These decisions can weigh heavily when they affect not only ourselves but those around us.
But the Scriptures say that, despite our weak flesh, there are ways to overcome the temptation of the world.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
God gives us the opportunity to turn our backs on the temptation and walk the other way. It shouldn't be any surprise when we're confronted by our weaknesses, but it takes a conscious effort to look for the way to escape that God has promised.
The greater good that the Lord has planned for us does not include our choosing to go against His commandments. Using His own Word as a weapon against temptation is one of the tools He has provided us in our daily walk. If you've been reading Scripture on a daily basis, you've already stored up hundreds of Scripture that fight the evil of temptation with the voice of truth.
We are never left to fend for ourselves - we serve a faithful God Who desires the very best out of our lives. What seems overwhelming to us isn't even a challenge to our Heavenly Father. Staying close to Him and drawing on His strength and power can give us the confidence we need, and the loyalty to Him, to turn away from those difficult temptations.
It's so true that the scripture we read can come back to us when we need it the most! It always amazes me that I can remember verses I never tried to memorize, just at the right moment! Blessings - Robin
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