OVERCOMING TEMPTATION

Understanding how temptation works is in itself helpful, but there are specific steps you need to take to overcome it. The first step is refusing to be intimidated. Many Christians are frightened and demoralized by tempting thoughts, feeling guilty that they aren’t beyond temptation. They feel ashamed just for being tempted. This is a misunderstanding of maturity. You will never outgrow temptation. In one sense you can consider temptation a compliment. Satan does not have to tempt those that are already doing his evil will; they are already his. Temptation is a sign that Satan hates you, not a sign of weakness or worldliness. It is also a normal part of being human and living in a fallen world. Don’t be surprised or shocked or discouraged by it. Be realistic about the inevitability of temptation; you will never be able to avoid it completely. The Bible says, when you are tempted, not if. Paul advises, remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. It is not a sin to be tempted. Jesus was tempted, yet he never sinned. Temptation only becomes a sin when you give in to it. Martin Luther said, you cannot keep birds from flying over your head but not can keep them from building a nest in your hair. You can’t keep the devil from suggesting thoughts, but you can choose not to dwell or act on them. For example, many people don’t know the difference between physical attraction or sexual arousal, and lust. They are not the same. God made every one of us a sexual being, and that is good. Attraction and arousal are the natural, spontaneous, God-given responses to physical beauty, while lust is a deliberate act of the will. Lust is a choice to commit in your mind what you’d like to do with your body. You can be attracted or even aroused without choosing to sin by lusting. Many people, especially Christian men, feel guilty that their God-given hormones are working. When they automatically notice an attractive woman, they assume it is lust and feel ashamed and condemned. But attraction is not lust until you begin to dwell on it. Actually the closer you grow to God, the more Satan will try to tempt you. The moment you became God’s child, Satan, like a mobster hit man, put out a contract on you, you are his enemy, and he’s plotting your downfall. Sometimes while you are praying, Satan will suggest a bizarre or evil thought just to distract you and shame you. Don’t be alarmed or ashamed by this, but realize that Satan fears your prayers and will try anything to stop them. Instead of condemning yourself with, how could I think of such a thought? Treat it as a distraction from Satan and immediately refocus on God.

            Recognize your pattern of temptation and be prepared for it. There are certain situations that make you more vulnerable to temptation than others. Some circumstances will cause you to stumble almost immediately, while others don’t bother you much. These situations are unique to your weakness, and you need to identify them because Satan surely knows them! He knows exactly what trips you up, and he is constantly working to get you into those circumstances. Peter warns, stay alert. The devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Ask yourself, when am I most tempted? What day of week? What time of day? Ask, where am I most tempted? At work? At home? At a neighbour’s house? At a sport bar? In an airport or motel out of town? Ask, who is with me when I am most tempted? Friends? Co-workers? A crowd of strangers? When am alone? Also ask, how do I usually feel when I am most tempted? It may be when you are tired or lonely or bored or depressed or under stress. It may be when you’ve been hurt or angry or worried, or after a big success or spiritual high. You should identify your typical pattern of temptation and then prepare to avoid those situations as much as possible. The Bible tells us repeatedly to anticipate and be ready to face temptations. Paul said, don’t give the devil a chance. Wise planning reduces temptation. Follow the advices of proverbs: plan carefully what you do. Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don’t go one step off the right way. God’s people avoid evil ways, and they protect themselves by watching where they go.

            Request God’s help. Heaven has a twenty four hour emergency hot line. God wants you to ask Him for assistance in overcoming temptations. He says; call on me in times of trouble. I will rescue you, and you will honour me. I call this a microwave prayer because it is quick and to the point. Help! SOS! Mayday! When temptations strike, you don’t have time for a long conversation with God; you simply cry out. David, Daniel, Peter, Paul, and millions of others have prayed this kind of instant prayer for help in time of trouble. The Bible guarantees that our cry for help will be heard because Jesus is sympathetic to our struggle. He faced the same temptations we do. He understands our weakness, for He faced all of the same temptations we do, yet He did not sin. If God is waiting to help us defeat temptation, why don’t we turn to him more often? Honestly, sometimes we don’t want to be helped! We want to give in to temptation even though we know it’s wrong. At that moment we think we know what’s best for us more than God. At other times we are embarrassed to ask God for help because we keep giving in to the same temptation over and over. But God never get’s irritated, bored, or impatient when we keep coming back to Him. The Bible says, let us have confidence, then, and approach God’s throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it. God’s love is everlasting, and his patience endures forever. If you have to cry out for God’s help two hundred times a day to defeat a particular temptation, he will still be eager to give mercy and grace, so come boldly. Ask Him for power to do the right thing and then expect Him to provide it. Temptations keep us dependent upon God. Just as the roots grow stronger when the wind blows against a tree, so every time you stand up to a temptation you become more like Jesus. When you stumble- which you will- it is not fatal. Instead of giving in or giving up, look up to God, expect him to help you, and remember the reward that is waiting for you: when people are tempted and still continue strong, they should be happy. After they have proved their faith, God will reward them with life forever.