How To Handle Temptation - Part 2

If you haven't read Part 1 of this post, click here.

In part one of this post, I discussed the importance of knowing your weaknesses and being aware that when we feed our flesh it only gets stronger.  If we feed our Spirit instead, our flesh will become weak and it will be a little easier each time we resist temptation.  God always provides a way out! 

In the second part of this post, I'd like you to first take some time to think about the following points:

How are you usually tempted?

Does anything precipitate your temptations?

Do you notice a pattern?

How do you normally handle these temptations?

How would God want you to handle these situations?

Look up scriptures that deal with this type of temptation, keep them nearby and memorize them if you can. Keep them close to your heart.  Be aware that your temptations may be more difficult to fight if you are tired, angry, overwhelmed or weary, etc.  Imagine yourself handling each temptation using the tools that God has given you. This way you will be more ready to fight it when it comes.

Here are a couple of examples of the temptations / vulnerabilities that I often face:

When I am tired, lonely, bored, overwhelmed or weary, I especially need to guard my heart against the following:

1)  I’m often tempted to act out with a quick temper...

   - If I’m in a hurry.
   - When I’m overwhelmed or stressed.
   - In times of transition.

Scriptures to meditate on:

Ecclesiastes 7:8 "The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride".

1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed".

Romans 12:10, "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves".

2)  I’m often tempted to eat food (sweets) to make myself feel better.

  - When I feel lonely or bored.
  - When I’m having a particularly difficult day.
  - When I don’t want to make the effort to eat healthy.

Scriptures to meditate on:

1 Peter 5:7, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you".

1 Corinthians 6:19, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;".

These are just a couple of examples from my own life.  I obviously have many others that I could have written down for you, but I thought that I would include two of the most frequent ones.

When you have the opportunity, take some time and pray about where your areas of vulnerability are and how you can handle them in a way that pleases God. With enough practice meditating and speaking out God’s Word, your flesh will eventually get weaker, and the Holy Spirit will become stronger.  That's a promise God has made us!

One important thing I must add...

Regardless of our efforts, there will be times in all of our lives that we fall into temptation.  When this happens, it's so important to take it to God immediately.  Repent, ask for His forgiveness and move on.  Sometimes we eat that cookie that we told ourselves we wouldn't eat. If what we do isn't actually a sin, but failing our own expectations, we still need to take it to God immediately.  Either way, you need to move on after giving it to God.  Moving on does not mean that you are not sorry or do not care.  Moving on means you are forgiving yourself and accepting God's mercy by not beating yourself up about it.  God does not forgive us more if we keep condemning ourselves over something we did.  If you continue to punish yourself for falling into temptation, it will cause you to fall again.

Thank you, Jesus, that we are able to resist temptation in YOUR STRENGTH!  You do not expect us to do this on our own.  You also do not expect perfection.  What you do expect is for our hearts to be soft and turned towards You.  You are here with us every step of the way!

Picture credit: riskrapper.files.wordpress.com

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.