Understanding Temptation
Temptation is the desire to do or have something that you know is wrong or bad. Temptation is an attraction to an action or an object that is absolutely wrong. To illustrate, while shopping you see a desirable object. The thought that you could easily steal the object invades your mind. However, when your conscience says no! And you dismiss the thought and move on. At that point you are a victor. But when your conscience says yes and you yield to that temptation, you have allowed the temptation to subdue you. You will find yourself doing the wrong thing and facing the repercussions.
Temptation is like a trade; it is like an offer made to you. Most times when people make an offer to you, you might instinctively discover what they want you to exchange for that offer. Or they might even tell you what you need to exchange before they grant you that offer. But when you see temptation and it's offer, it doesn't tell you to surrender anything for it's offer at first. In fact, its offer is made like suggestion. It would tell you that if you take this, then you will have this pleasure. And when you accept that offer, then you will see how temptation will gradually take away all your gifts and blessings till you are empty. Hence, when temptation comes, do not yield or surrender. Because it's treasure is temporal, but the pains and sorrows it gives last like the years you have on earth.
Why Should Temptation Come to me?
Everyone on earth experiences the trials of temptation. It will always come to everyone that lives on earth. No matter how poor, rich, holy, and sinful you are, temptations will always come. Do not ask why temptations should come to you because if you are to check properly, you will discover that you are the one that is tempting yourself. Now look, temptations do not come to you, you go to them. Temptations will always be there. No matter where you go, temptations will always be there. There is no place on earth without temptation, even in the church. I expect you to ask how is it possible for you to be the one tempting yourself. I will tell you how.
There is temptation today because of the weakness of the body. Temptations arise as a result of the wrong desires of the heart. And what the heart desires is what it feels it will be good and pleasurable for the body. All temptations centres on what will benefit the body and the satisfaction the body needs. Your body is lawless and only accepts the law of pleasure and survival. Hence, anything your body sees as desirable and pleasurable, it goes to it without circumspection. It is your spirit and conscience that controls the body. The spirit is exposed to the knowledge of truth, and knows what is good and destructive for the body. For instance, a child that has been hungry since morning suddenly sees a white chemical thinking that it is the usual milk he used to drink. Drinking the milk to satisfy his stomach isn't a bad choice for him, then he makes his move to drink the chemical. The mother who is more knowledgeable than him hauls him back, because she knows how dangerous the chemical is. The baby is your body, the mother is your spirit and conscience, and the white chemical is the temptation. We can see that it was not the white chemical that went to the baby, but it was the baby that went close to it. The conscience knows when a desire is good or not. If the desire of the heart is bad, then the spirit will rebuke the body from going close to that desire, but if the spirit allows the pleasure of the body to rule over it then there is problem. You are the tempting yourself because you are contemplating within your mind whether to go close to that temptation or not. Because of the pleasant way temptations present themselves to us, people contemplate on the gains and harms. By doing this you are tempting yourself. If the pleasure of the body is ruling over the spirit and conscience, then the possibility of you yielding is high. You know that temptation is wrong. Though it might help you in your problem a way, but it is wrong. It's pleasure is for a while, and it's disaster is forever. For the fact that the temptation is wrong, why not overlook it instead of contemplating within yourself. Definitely, resisting temptations might be difficult, that is why we need to allow your spirit to rule over the pleasures of the earth. Even when our friends and family come to tempt you, you began tempting yourself by considering the offer. Joseph in the Bible never tempted himself, he didn't consider the offer of potifar's wife. He stood his ground.
Why Should We Resist Temptation?
1) Avoid falling into the trap of Satan: Temptation is a bait or a lure that can lead a foolish, naive, or unwary person into the net of Satan. When you go near to temptation, and yield, you will become a captive and a slave to Satan.One temptation to another, and if you yield one sin leads to another. Yielding to a particular temptation will make you to continue grow deep in sin. For instance, if you are caught cheating, you will find your self lying against your wife. Temptation will make you a slave to sin. He will torture your life on earth and inflict sorrows on you. He will make you blind to the kingdom of God, and he will deny you the assurance of heaven.
2) Destroy your life: A minute decision you take in this life can either promote your life or ruin it. The same goes for temptation, falling for temptation could ruin your life forever. There is truly no pleasure in falling for temptation, the pleasure you see in temptation is just temporal but it's consequence is long lasting.
How To Overcome And be Victorious Over Temptation
Strengthen your spirit: How can you do this? The only way you can do this is establishing a strong relationship with Jesus Christ. Are you living sin, turn away from your sin and humble yourself before him and he will forgive your sin. Believe and trust in him, sincerely have this desire to serve him till the end of your life and he will forgive you. The only way to strengthen your spirit so that it can rule over your body is to read the bible always. Find a true and holy christian to guide you through the word of the bible or you get a good news bible to help you. When you read the bible always, you eyes will be opened. You will see what you ought to do as a Child of God, and when temptation comes, your spirit will know of an escape route. The spirit of God will show you an escape route. The bible says that my people perish because of lack of knowledge. Strengthen your spirit.
Act Quickly: When temptation comes do not contemplate on it. Contemplating on it is your weakness. You need to know what you can do to take away your mind from that improper desire. You can act quickly by taking away your eyes, focusing your mind on something else; an activity, a conversation, a challenge, or your happiness.
Think of the consequence: When temptation comes, think of the consequence. Imagine yourself experiencing any of the consequences. Remember, you need to protect your happiness, and even if you think you are not happy, yielding to temptation will add more sorrow to you.
Pray Always: You need to pray always so that God can lead you through. You need his grace to be able to defeat temptations. You can't do without him. Pray so that he can strengthen you. You need to pray in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Because temptations occur all times.
Expect it: Wherever you go, always expect that there could be trials there, and you get yourself prepared for it.
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