Overcoming Temptations
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Satan tempts everyone, especially Christians, but the Lord promises that we can endure and be victorious. However, we have to search for an escape. The problem is that Satan will tempt us to choose our will with no thought that we are being tempted and he does this because he knows the power of our self-will. Our self-will is dangerous because it sometimes requires deep insight to choose our will or the Lord’s will.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) This verse reveals that Paul surrendered to the Lord, and his mind and heart had been renewed to that of Christ — changing his will to the will of God.
The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him. (Psalms 28:7 NASB) We become spiritual warriors through the power of our Lord if we call on him in the time of battle. Every time we are tempted, we consider the temptation as coming directly from Satan and we get ready for battle.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. (Ephesians 6:10-11) We have to be strong in the Lord if we desire to be spiritual warriors and have victory over the flesh. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13) We are strong in the Lord when are ready for spiritual battle which requires we have spiritual armor.
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37) Do we love our fleshly desires more than God? When we yield to temptation, are we giving Satan priority over God in our life? The more love we have in our hearts, the more power we have to overcome temptation.
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.(1 John 4:4) We have power over Satan because we have the Holy Spirit. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, (Ephesians 3:20) There is never a better time to experience the power of God than having victory over Satan’s temptations. Every victory calls for celebration because that is what we do when we have victory.
Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. (Proverbs 16:32) When tempted, be patient and immediately call on the Lord and ask for self-control. It takes self-control because the power of the temptation is our emotions. Our emotions are fueled by our memories. We remember the enjoyment of the sin and we forget the guilt from our sinful behavior.
Today, consider every temptation as coming directly from Satan and call on the Lord for strength and wisdom to overcome. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)
Prayer: Lord, give me your strength to overcome all of Satan’s temptations, and help me to have self-control over any emotions that strengthens those temptations. In Jesus’ name, Amen