How to Handle Temptation - Part 1

"God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him".(James 1:12).

I intentionally did not title this post, "How To Avoid Temptation". I wish it wasn't so, but temptation is a part of life, and there is no true way to always avoid it.  If Jesus was tempted, you can be sure that we're going to be tempted, also. Mark 1:13 says, "and He was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended Him".  God has provided a way out of each temptation, though, and we can equip ourselves to stand against it!

It is Not a Sin To Be Tempted!

Let me say it again...It is not a sin to be tempted! Many years went by where I felt such guilt over being tempted with certain things that would show up in my life. This would actually cause me to fall into temptation even easier, because I was already feeling like I had done something wrong. What freedom there is to know that it's not a sin to be tempted! Jesus lived a sinless life here on earth, and He was tempted.  That's how you can be sure that it's not a sin to be tempted. So how do we handle situations once we are tempted?

Know Your Weakness and Areas of Temptation

First of all, we need to know our weaknesses.  In Luke 22:40 Jesus says, "There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.”. Jesus didn't say that we should pray that temptation will never come, because it will. He tells us in this verse to pray that we will not give in to it when it does come.  In order to avoid falling into temptation, we need to know our weaknesses and the areas of temptation that usually hit us.  Where are your weakest areas?  You need to know them, because I can guarantee you that Satan knows them already!  In order to be more successful with not falling into temptation, we need to pray regularly that God helps us in these specific areas.  We need to be ready before we are tempted.  We can't always be ready for every temptation that comes our way, but if we add this to our prayers each day, we will be more equipped than we were before!

Anything You Feed Gets Stronger

Colossians 3:5 says, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry".

If you continue to "feed" your flesh with giving into temptations, it will just get stronger. Starving your flesh (meditating on God's Word instead of what your flesh wants to do) will cause your flesh to become weaker. When your flesh becomes weaker, your Spirit gets stronger!  Feed your Spirit and not your flesh.  This can be a painful and lengthy process, but changes will be made in your heart each time you do it.

There Is Always a Way Out!

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Cor. 10:13).

God tells us that there is always a way out of situations that tempt us. We need to be wise and not give into temptation. It is not impossible to fight it, even though it may feel almost next to it at times. When you handle temptation God's way, you will reap peace and righteousness. James 1:12 says, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him".

- What are your greatest areas of weakness?
- How do you handle the situations you're normally tempted with?
- Are you trying to handle these temptations in YOUR power or GOD'S?
- Take time to pray and study the scriptures that will help fight against the temptations that you most often come across.

Thank you, Jesus, that you have shown us a way to fight temptation! We can’t do this in our own strength, and You have shown us how to lean on and trust You along the way.