Day 27 - Defeating Temptation
There is always a way out…
Sometimes we get hit so hard, and the feelings are so strong that we just don’t see the way out from yielding to an area of temptation, but “remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.” 1 Cor. 10:13
What is the way out you ask? How do I see it and what do I do?
The first step is to refocus your attention on something else. There is no place in the Bible that says to resist temptation. If you focus on resisting something, it has already won. What gets your thoughts get you! The more you say to yourself, ” I will not eat that cake, I will not eat that cake..” the more hungry you get and the desire for “that cake” grows. The more you say to yourself, “I won’t think about _________ …” the more you will think about it. Surprisingly the very thing we try not to think about winds up being reinforced in our minds. “I will never be like my mother/father/ex-spouse ..” simply drives that very thing deeper into our minds.
You don’t defeat temptation by focusing on it or fighting the feeling of it. The battle is won or lost in our minds. It’s not an issue of resisting the temptation, it’s an issue of being able to refocus our attention and replacing the thoughts!
Temptation begins by capturing your attention. What gets your attention arouses your emotions. Your emotions activate behavior, and you act on what you feel. The more you focus on “I don’t want to do this, ” the stronger it becomes.
Ignoring temptation is far more effective than fighting it. Once your mind is focused on something else, the temptation loses it’s power! The best way to do this is to fill your mind with good things. Memorizing scripture is a powerful tool, and the one that Jesus used to overcome temptation in the wilderness when Satan tempted him. If Jesus used scripture, maybe it’s a clue how we should resist Satan when he tempts us!
Another way to defeat temptation is to be willing to open up to others about it. It’s a sad fact that we are so conditioned to put on a show of “everything is alright, thanks for asking,” that we miss how important it is to get the help of others when we are weak and struggling.
Everything is not “alright” if my brother or sister is stuck and defeated by a particular temptation and sin that holds them back from being all that they were created to be. Sometimes we need to “confess our sins to one another and pray for one another so that we may be healed.” James 5:16 It comes down to how badly we really want to overcome this thing versus how proud we are to admit we have a problem. When we finally admit it and confess it we get power over it!
Hiding it doesn’t help you it only intensifies it. Revealing brings healing. Don’t repress it, confess it! The problems that grow in the dark will shrink in the light of God’s healing power and restoration. Don’t let it go on another minute without making a commitment to share and open up your heart. It will lift the oppression and pressure, and you’ll experience joy.
So far we have learned two ways to defeat temptation. Refocusing our thoughts and attention as well as opening up and sharing our weaknesses with others. A third area way is to resist the devil.
This area probably is misunderstood the most. How do we resist the Devil? Why is resisting Satan and resisting temptation so different?
James 4:7 says “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you.” We do not passively sit back and wish for things. We take massive warlike action because we are in a war! Christians are many times compared to soldiers in enemy territory. So what do we do?
“Put on your helmet of salvation and take the sword of the spirit.” Eph. 6:17 The first step is accepting God’s salvation. You can’t say no to the Devil unless you have first said yes to Christ. The helmet of salvation protects our minds. Satan cannot force you to do anything, only suggest if you are a believer. Salvation frees you from the bondage and power Satan holds on your life.
The second step is effectively wielding the “sword of the spirit,” which is the Word of God. You don’t have any arguments that you can win with Satan. He’s been at this thing a long time. What Satan cannot stand is God’s Word. Quote it. Memorize it. Pick up your sword and use it. Cut off the lies at their knees. Stand victorious.
In this amazing victory that we are able to realize, we are never to grow cocky and proud. “He that thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall…” Any person, given the right circumstances is capable of sin. We must never let down our guard. Our confidence is in the One who gives us what we need when we need it.