Have you ever tried to diet?
As many of you can probably attest, the length of a diet, well-followed, is very short, indeed.
Why is that?
Because those foods you are determined to give up, taste so good, and are too tempting to stay away from.
Even looking at this image of a cake, are salivating, and planning in your head how to satisfy your current craving for cake, sugar, etc.
Dieting is just as hard as it is for us to stay away from sin and keep from falling into temptation.
We try so hard to avoid our known and unknown pitfalls, sometimes we end up falling into them, that much sooner.
Here is what I mean. When you keep saying to yourself, “I can’t have cake…I can’t have cake….I really shouldn’t have cake….but there’s a piece of cake, and I can’t stand it anymore….am going to eat it!”
You have focused so much on the what you can’t have, that’s all you can think about, and eventually give into it. Sin is the same way.
Can you relate?
When we aim to be faithful to our spouses, but constantly think about someone else, we shouldn’t be, that is dangerous and is not following your godly diet lifestyle.
When you focus so much on money, that it compromises your family and others, that is not following your godly diet lifestyle.
When you let your anger take over, and hurt others as a result, that is not following your godly diet lifestyle. Get my drift?
So, at this point, temptation seems impossible to avoid, right?
But with Christ, we can have the victory! We need His help and to rely on His power to resist the devil.
Here are some scriptures, talking about temptation, and how we can be victorious over it:
“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41 ESV
“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”
1Timothy 6:9 ESV
“Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!
Matthew 18:7 ESV
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
1Corinthians 10:13 ESV
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Matthew 6:5-15 ESV
Pray, pray, then pray some more!
I have faith God will continue to help you, no matter the temptation, no matter the pit you have fallen into, God’s grace and forgiveness is more than enough. Have faith and stand firm. Amen!