How do we overcome temptation when we are bombarded by it everyday? Some might think the only way to overcome it would be to lock ourselves in our rooms and never come out. That’s not going to happen. So what can we do?
The first thing we can do to overcome temptation is to RECOGNIZE IT.
Genesis 3:1-7 NLT
1The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
2“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3“It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
4“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5“God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
6The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
Eve was having dialog with Satan in the Garden of Eden. Eve’s destiny changed when she responded to the serpent. The enemy can and will say anything he wants, but we don’t have to engage in conversing with him. Satan doesn’t always lie outright, but distorts partial truths. Our best strategy is to never engage in conversation with the enemy.
Satan raised questions about God’s motives and said that God’s warning was not true. Adam and Eve believed the lie. As a result they gave in and sinned against God.
God’s Word is absolute Truth, and the enemy will try and destroy our faith in God and His Word by raising doubts about who He is. What lies have you believed?
“Deception is only effective as long as it’s undetected. The first step to being changed is to define the lie.” -Steven Furtick
-It is important to recognize how the enemy will tempt us. If we don’t, we will continue to struggle with giving in to temptation. What is a situation you often find yourself in when giving into temptation, and how can you avoid it?
We are most vulnerable when we are tired and worn out both physically and spiritually. What are some things you can do to protect yourself when you are tired?
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