Acknowledge Your Temptations

Temptation is legit. It is real. It is present, and it is all around us. There is not a day on this Earth that goes by that temptation does not thread its tentacles around us, weaving its way in and out of our hearts and minds, stirring our emotions, and captivating our attention. At best, temptation is subtle and deceitful and at worst…completely and sometimes permanently destructive. And it is so easy to allow its intrusion because its slippery, soft voice so gently and seductively whispers, “It’s okay…I’ll only stay for a while. I’ll be a quiet guest. You’ll never know I’m here.” And so it does stay for a while, but then it becomes comfortable and begins to make suggestive and manipulative whispers, “You don’t really want me to leave, do you? I’m pretty sure you enjoy my presence. I belong here with you. I am part of you.”

James 1:14,15 (NIV) says, “…but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” God Himself tells Cain after Cain murdered Abel, “…sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Genesis 4:7b (NIV) It would be so easy to say at this point, “Well, that’s not me.” Proverbs 16:18 (NIV) warns, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Paul is clear in 1 Corinthians 10:12,13 (NKJV): “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 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.”

The truth is we are daily faced with temptation. Only you and the Lord know what your particular brand of temptation is, but I think James says it best when he advises: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:7,8a (NKJV) And Peter when he admonishes: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8,9 (NKJV)

Today, let’s acknowledge our temptations and expose them to the light of God’s truth. Let’s allow them to squirm and be uncomfortable as we immerse ourselves in God’s Word and prayer. Let’s resist them and kick them out of our hearts and minds, and let’s allow the Lord to fill us with His Presence instead.