Temptation

Temptation – we all are faced with it every day. Temptation has been defined as: “the pressure to give in to a desire for easy or immediate pleasure.”1 Another definition that I find more in line with what I believe temptation is goes something like this: “the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise.”

Since the flesh is wired with a desire to seek pleasure and avoid pain, is it any wonder that unless we let the Holy Spirit lead and direct our heart and desires, that we often give in to temptation. When we give in to temptation, especially under the second definition above, we sin, and often short-circuit the blessings God wants to give us. I would like to share two ways in which we can have victory over temptation and send the devil packing!

Hide God’s Word in your heart

(Psalm 119:11) tells us: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” When we read Scripture and hide these precious words of life in our heart we begin to replace our old ways of thinking with new godly ways of thinking. And I have learned over the years that what you think and meditate on usually will manifest itself in outward behavior. When temptations arise and we are saturated with Scripture we can do what Jesus did, when He was tempted in the wilderness, and stand on Bible verses to combat the temptations. If you remember when Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness He quoted three verses from Deuteronomy and the devil had to flee. My friends there is nothing more powerful to combat temptations than the Bible. Read it, meditate on it, and live it and you will have power to defeat the temptations that inevitably will come your way.

Realize that God is better

I love what Pastor Francis Chan shares regarding temptation: “I have one reason why you should walk away from that temptation right now. One reason: God. Is. Better.”2 Giving in to temptations for the Christian brings very short lived pleasures because as soon as we realize we disappoint God by sinning, we now have to face the music and ask for forgiveness and repent. So, we see that these momentary pleasures are accompanied by guilt and sorrow, and sadly, in some cases, negative consequences that God doesn’t override; even when we repent.

However, while overcoming temptations by staying close to God may not always bring pleasurable feelings, I believe, we receive something far better – lasting joy – knowing that we are pleasing the Creator of the universe by saying no to sin. I love what we read in the Scriptures about abiding in the presence of Jesus: “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11). This verse is so precious because it shows us how much better it is to do it God’s way and be in His presence. One, we are shown the wonderful path of life that God wants us to walk on. Two, when we do it God’s way we get fullness of joy; which beats temporary pleasures in my book. And three, there is just no way temporary pleasures can compete with, “pleasures forevermore.” To put it simply the closer we get to Jesus the more we realize as Pastor Chan said: “God. Is. Better!”

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1 46 Synonyms of TEMPTATION | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

2 TOP 25 QUOTES BY FRANCIS CHAN (of 319) | A-Z Quotes (azquotes.com)