OVERCOMING TEMPTATIONS
Let me start with frequently asked questions!
Is temptation actually a sin?
Do one really overcome temptations?
Or do you fight them?
How then do you deal with your temptation?
Or do you think it’s easier to fall ??
Temptations have always been and will always be a part of our daily lives most especially as believers the moment you’ve surrendered your life to Christ and become born again and the devil has seen that you’ve taken the decision to be deliberate and intentional with your Christian walk, that is when you’ll start seeing different options, tempting things all around you.
Temptation can be said to be a desire for something that is not good for you either at that point or at all, something that is forbidden and contrary to your values and belief system. Temptation can also be said as the point between choosing good over bad,or faced with making the right choice or not.
Whether we like it, whether we want it or not,
we will be faced with several pressure to do the wrong thing every day.
Now it is important to note like the questions above that to be tempted is actually not a sin in itself but it becomes a sin when you fall into temptation.
And I believe this is quite relatable, I’m pretty sure you might have been faced with a temptation at one point or the other in your lifetime.
Of which you either succumbed or you overcame!
Temptations actually differs, varies depending on the individual level and mindset.
Do you know that when you resist a temptation, you become wiser and knowledgeable?
Temptations makes us stronger and it helps to build your faith and spirit when you overcome, and personally I discovered that the more I’m able to resist temptation the better Christian I become, I feel a growth spiritually.
How interesting it is to know that for each class of temptation you pass gives you a certain level of confidence and boost in Christ to recognize your vulnerabilitye to sin.
For each temptation you were faced with and you overcome, you receive Grace for the next level, remember it’s an established fact that we can not actually do away with temptation from our lives, but if you keep on failing when you’re tempted you’re left with two options, either you obtain Grace to discipline yourself, stamina to build capacity to overcome that temptation or you remain in that fallen state and keep on falling the more, and soon you’ll want to believe that it’s impossible to overcome that situation but don’t forget that the Bible tells us that we are tempted out of our own lust.
So if one cannot do without facing temptations so how actually do you deal or handle such situations.
Remember temptations differs but biblically there are some laid down principles to guide you when you’re faced with any temptation so let’s discuss about the most efficient ways to overcome temptations as a Christian.
1) Flee:- The bible says in 1Thessalonians 5:17, flee every appearance of evil, don’t wait until you’re sure it’s evil, once you get a hint or something is looking like sin, don’t reason, don’t calculate, discern it and flee, let’s learn from Joseph when he was faced with sexual sin he ran as quickly as possible.
2)BE WATCHFUL and continually RENEW, and REEVALUATE your thoughts, crosscheck what has been going through your mind , what have you been feeding your mind with, whatever you keep or nurse in your heart overtime comes to play, it is said that you become what you consistently think it can be what you’re reading, what you’re watching, your thoughts, learn to distract yourself as much as possible and keep yourself busy with things that’ll profit you, it’s more harder to resist temptation if you continue thinking about a thing, or if you keep on visiting or staying in an environment conducive for sin to thrive remember the bible says in the book of proverbs 4 vs 23 guard your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life and also in Phil 4:8, Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
and this brings me to my number 3
3)Grow in word study, fill your mind with the word of God and sound doctrines that edifies, focus on things that will help build you, surround yourself with people that will help your growth and Spiritual life, the Bible says is in Colossians 3:16 let the word of Christ dwell richly in you another practical example to examine is that of Jesus when he was tempted in the wilderness, he had just finished fasting and the tempter came, it was the word he had in him that he used to defeat the devil, you can do so little without having God’s word as a defence tool no wonder the psalmist said in Psalms 119:11 your word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against thee. So if you’re constantly falling into temptations ask yourself, am I really growing and dwelling in the God’s word.
4)Pray! Keep on praying and when you’re tired, continue praying….
Believe me no strong Christian who wants to grow and who wants to overcome temptation can do that with a cold prayer life, the place of prayer is the place of building, there can never be excess of prayer Jesus said in the Lord’s prayer, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from all evil!
Be prayerful, it is in the place of prayer that God prepares you for the task ahead, Jesus asked that we are not lead into temptation because he knows that as long as we are still in the flesh (body) and alive temptations will always come but he added that God has created the ability in us to deliver and help us from any when we are faced with one.
5)Discipline! Discipline yourself, Do not pamper anything that might be a stronghold, Don’t pamper sin, there’s no little sin, no matter the aspect, money can be a form temptation, food can also be, sexual sin is also a form of temptation and so many others, so as Christians we need the help of the Holy Spirit to guide us even as we journey through life….
Ask yourself a question what really fuels my temptation and use that to start working towards perfection and the Good Lord will help us and give us Grace to always overcome whenever we are faced with trials and temptation in Jesus name. Amen!
Credit:: Abiodun Damilola
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