Lead us not Into TEMPTATIONS
1 Corinthians 10:13 God can be trusted to not let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptation. (CEV)
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (NKJV)
Hebrews 4:14-16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
James 1:12-15 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
I think everyone has issues with temptation. And we are tempted by different things. For some it may be going out to eat, shopping weekly for things you really don’t need, it may be ice cream, alcohol, chocolate, and the list can be endless.
God created each of us each with his or her own desires. Many can refuse the temptations around them. For some they mentally decide to have their temptation once weekly, or once monthly, and the other times the desire raises interest, they can push it away. They are able to stick to their plan to deal with their temptation.
I love sweets—chocolate, certain desserts, cookies and yes, anything with white sugar seems to work! I so admire those who are stronger at resisting temptations then I am. My resistance is low, and I find it difficult to walk away. Yet, how self-centered is that? All about me and the taste and texture in my mouth—FOR A MOMENT, then gone, over, done. And generally, I also have to face the fact that the additional calories will probably be around FOREVER!
I so dislike that I cave so often. Jesus NEVER gave in to temptations, and his period of suffering was almost 6 weeks, 40 days! This is an area I ask the Holy Spirit to help me. I do not want to be so weak that at the first bit of teasing and tempting, I crash and give in, pulling a Scarlett O’Hara and promising I will be better tomorrow. Yes, I want to be better tomorrow, but I prefer to behave NOW, to resist NOW. I don’t want to succumb to the weakness and give in to a fleeting temptation and feel as though I have disappointed me and God, and have disobeyed…Because really, giving in to temptation is committing a selfish sin.
My walk with God is all about becoming better, developing with the help of Him to be more like Jesus. I want to see more progress for myself in this area. NOW.
And speaking of NOW, that too can be an issue. I hate to wait, and I am becoming a tad better at it, but still it yanks on that temptation cord, and says, ‘just have a little piece, NOW, then that will be it, and you won’t be SO bad.’ Liar. A sin is a sin is a sin is a…..
So, I am filling my mind with all sorts of verses about resisting temptation this week, and will type them up, putting in my car, my bathroom, my table beside my chair, in my bible so each bit of reading for the next day, will have the verses there. I have to read those verses, ask for God’s help before reading the area of study I am in for that day.
They are typed and ready to be placed. Thank You, God for offering me ways to be obedient.
I will let you know in a few weeks how this plan and God’s help is working for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
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