Fighting Temptations

Monday, February 8, 2010

Praise the Lord, Chosen Women!

Happy Monday! This morning when I was on my way to the gym (that's already a testimony! LOL) I was listening to a religious radio station. I do not remember the speaker but he was talking about Overcoming Temptation, or some title like that. My mind drifted from what he was saying; I only heard the subject matter and then I drifted into my own conversation with the Lord.

I began to meditate on the topic thinking that no man or woman makes it through life without experiencing temptation -- including and most assuredly the saints. On this past Sunday I found myself asserting once again in Testimony Service as I have so many times in the past that, "We cannot live holy if we cannot be honest!" I thought of this when meditating on this subject.

Moreover, I am really held captive by the subject of temptation because I have been dreaming about compromise among the saints. Compromise is not always imminent in the face of temptation -- we can overcome temptation and not venture into compromise or sin. But avoiding compromise and sin happens at the point of temptation. If we do not deal with the temptation we are likely to venture into the area wherein we cease to demonstrate restraint.

Overcoming temptation first requires an understanding that being tempted is not sin. If you think that you have sinned because you have been tempted, then you are less likely to expose the temptation and cast it down. Always remember that the enemy, satan, is the accuser and tempter of mankind. He loves to make us feel guilty for his filthiness. It only becomes your filthiness when you entertain it to long. You further take ownership when you straight out act upon it.

You are enjoying the extra, flirty attention of that man or woman at the job or church who is married. Temptation. You have been hurt by someone and are opening up a bit to the amorous attention of people of the same sex. Temptation. You find yourself lingering longer and longer in those isles that offer the vices from which you have already been delivered; hearing some sweet sounding voice saying, "Now you know that drinking/smoking are not REALLY sins." Temptation.  You are disappointed in your spouse once again and think it might be time to give him/her a taste of their own medicine. Temptation.

You are tired of holding on and waiting on God and a voice is telling you, "As long and as faithfully as you have served God you KNOW He will not hold it against you if you go and get you some!" Temptation. God told you a long time ago to stop fooling with that individual because her conversation is divisive and she is not going in the same upward direction as you but you are so lonely for a friend you think, "It cannot hurt for us to just talk on the phone!" Temptation. You are thinking, "I have been paying into the kingdom too long with no results -- I am going to try something different!" Temptation.

We will not always see or identify the issues of our lives as temptations or diversions towards sin. To have your spiritual antenna go up as soon as temptation arrives requires one to walk in the Spirit. What does that mean for real? It means having a prayer and Bible study life; having a praise and worship life; attending church where the pure Word of God is being preached and taught routinely; being committed to obeying the Voice and Word of the Lord and abstaining from evil; communicating with spiritual people sometimes to hear testimonies and to give and to receive exhortation; listening to spiritual music to feed your soul; not gossiping or backbiting; not allowing things into your spirit that will poison your thoughts, your conversation, nor that of your family and children.

Once you identify temptation you have to be honest with you and see it for what it is. Then, in plain terms, you have got to shut it down! Some things will be easy to turn from. Some things will not. For those falling into the will not category, you will have to fast and pray. You might even have to expose it to a spiritual leader or person who knows how to pray and how to break the powers of the enemy over the lives of others. One thing you cannot do is lie to yourself.

We can triumph daily over the enemy of our soul and this flesh in which no good thing dwells. But, it does require truth. The Word of God is what we always stand upon in order to have good success -- and the psalmist addressed this one best in Psalm 51:6 ~ Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt me me to know wisdom. Have a blessed week in Him!

In Service for the Master,
Evangelist Lisa Y. Mitchell