Please add your comments and thanks again for reading my blog, promise i will try to keep them shorter.
What is temptation? A desire for something that is wrong or bad for you. Temptation for some may be chocolate, for others over-indulging in shopping, for others pre-martial sex.
Whatever your weakness is, that is exactly what will be dangled in your face. If your weakness is chocolate, the tempter will not show you juicy red apples but rather expensive, rich, tasteful, fulfilling chocolate. GODIVA…The good stuff!
God was tempted by Satan’s offer for food, power, and glory; yet he did not give in.
The bible says that we will not be tempted above what we can handle. So we are equipped to resist temptation, it is already within YOU. Not only that, but there is a way provided to escape.
So why do we as humans give in to temptation? Why do we give into our lustful desires? Even when we know the object of our temptation is bad for us and will only satisfy our desire/want momentary.
When faced with temptation we have a choice, we can choose to do what is good or what is bad for us. There is always a door to exist and get away from temptation, but we have to take the door, we have to move toward the door. Once temptation has you, it will be hard to break free.
So recently, I was met with temptation. The tempter knew my weakness is physically attractive men. I talking about the ones with big strong arms, hard chest, nice legs, cute face, etc.; let me stop while I am ahead. Lol
So initially, I knew that I was in for a test and that the outcome was totally up to me. Would I give in or would I remain focus? So I prayed and prayed and asked my prayer partners to pray too. My mind was made up although I could hear two voices one on the right and one on the left pleading their cases. I was able to quiet the voice that was totally against what I knew was best for me; at least for a little while, then it started screaming. “He is a GOOD man”, “He has a lot going for him”, “When was the last time you actually like someone?”, “He has all the qualities you want, except for one”. The other voice was saying, “That one quality he is lacking, cancels all the other 9”, “He is absolutely not worth it”.
I wish I could tell you that I was able to meet temptation head on and I won, but this is not the case.
Let me tell you, if you let your guard down, temptation will be sitting so close to you, you will not realize how much danger you are in until it is too late. Satisfying your lustful desires is fun for a time. I mean it is fun to get a “good fix”. Again this is short-lived. I mean think about it, once you give in to your temptation, how long does it last? Not forever. Then the next day or so the desire returns and you have to go through the same thing all over again to get their desire met. So why not try to find means of meeting your desires that will satisfy you longer?
Was there a time when you faced temptation and you either won or lost but you learned some good lessons that we can benefit from hearing, please share?
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ReplyDeleteWow, Sis... This is a good topic! Way to start off your blog!
ReplyDeleteThis topic is one that I think we all struggle with in one way or another... When you mentioned that addiction to shopping I just knew you were talking about me! LOL! But this is a good topic... When it is a true temptation it is VERY hard to resist... How do I pass up that fabulous pair of Jessica's that I want so bad?! Man, that guy is super fine and fun to be with but I know we have different values and goals and that may have been fine in my younger day but now that I am older and know what I want out of life… How do I turn him down because I know he can't offer me what I want even when I am lonely? The latter is very hard when you are a single woman and you really want to find someone to settle down with... you know? I definitely get tempted on that level.
For instance right now two of the guys that have shown interest are just not it... One is VERY attractive and funny... but I don't really see us having a real intellectual connection. That is very important to me... Also, I just know he is looking for something WAY more casual than I would want and bc there is no intellectual connection I don’t want to pursue anything with him anyway. NEXT!
Then the other guy is great to talk to, he has a lot going for himself and we have a few things in common. And guess what… He loves the Lord! One good thing about him is the conversation... but I am 100% not attracted to him and we are just in very different places in our lives. I think that contributes to our incompatibility. He is significantly older than I am, divorced and has 3 kids ranging from 8 - 18. This man has LIVED! There are things I know I want in life that he does not... Hmmm, if only I could put those two guys together and make one great guy! LOL! Thus far with the older guy I can say I am winning with that temptation. What tempts me is that the conversation is great and he is easy to talk to… It is nice to have a guy that you can talk to and share your day with. Also, he comes off as a genuinely caring person. He is very considerate. He is persistent as well so I feel like he is trying to wear me down! On those days where I feel lonely and he calls to check on me or see how that really rough client meeting went… I get a tad weak and feel like… maybe I should give him a shot. But then I remember that I’m really not attracted to him… Would that be fair to him? Or me for that matter? And then the differences in our lives and the differences in what we want… Back to reality! I just know it wouldn’t work.
With the other guy… The sexy, fun guy… Uh… that is another temptation all together… He is so funny… He makes me laugh… When I see him I can’t help but smile because he is funny… and probably also because I see him in the gym often and those biceps are bulging when he does those bicep curls! But there is no substance. I don’t feel like I can talk to him about anything… I know he is attracted to me but that is pretty much it… nothing else. I know something casual is not what I want so I wouldn’t want to purse anything with him… but when he flashes that smile (and those biceps) just for a moment my mind wanders… Back to reality!
One thing I can say, though. From comparing the two guys… (Typing it out really helped too! Thanks, Olivia!) It really puts in perspective what I do and don’t want… What I could and couldn’t handle. Dealing with each of them just reminds me not only of the qualities they have that I love and want in a mate but also the ones I know I can’t deal with in the guy I plan to settle down with. I don’t want to give into temptation and settle with a guy and miss the blessing God has in store for me.
Janie :-)
great post...i totally agree tempatation is very specific to the individual. let's face it the devil is a profession...thanks for the reminder that God won't tempt us beyond what we can handle. i need to look a bit closer for my exit strategy next time i'm tempted. i'm looking forward to reading your next post.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very good topic. Temptations, we all face them at some point in our lives. "Once temptation has you, it will be hard to break free". What if it's not temptation? What if it's part of the path that God has placed in front of you. You think you're lusting for it, therefore you think it's not for you, hence the word temptation. I guess it's out, am I being tempted to?
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