Luke 22:40 (NLT), “There he told them, “Pray that you will not give into temptation.”
Temptation is something you will all face no matter where you are in your walk with Christ. Jesus himself faced temptation from the devil for forty days and forty nights out in the wilderness. Temptation is a powerful tool of the enemy. James 1:14 (NLT) says, “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.”
As you grow in your relationship with God you may think the temptations would lessen or go away. Quite the contrary, when you are heading down the right path and growing in your walk with Christ is when the temptations grow. It’s at this point the devil knows you are moving away from him and towards God. The last thing he wants is for you to continue on that path to the blessed life God has for you. So he’s going to enhance his focus on stopping you. So you can look at the increased temptation you may be facing as a sign you are actually heading down the right path. The enemy wouldn’t spend so much time tempting you if he knows he’s already got you.
So how do you fight the temptations coming at you? As always your most powerful weapon is prayer. Matthew 26:41 (NLT) tells us, “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” You have to bring God into this battle with you, as you can’t defeat the enemy on your own. I have found prayer to be such a powerful weapon. Prayer helps to bring everything back into focus for me. The temptations don’t seem as tough when I’m in prayer. It is at that time, God can show you how the blessings He has in store for you are far greater than anything the enemy can tempt you with.
My friends don’t fear the temptations that come at you. See them for what they are, an attempt by the enemy to get you off course. Turn to God and ask Him to provide the strength you need to turn away from them. He will provide and each time you defeat those temptations you will grow bolder and stronger in your faith.
Truth In Love! ~ Chuck