Do you ever look at other Christian women and wonder why they never seem to struggle? Have you ever wondered if you’re the only person in your family that’s tempted to sin? Have you ever thought that no matter what you do, you could never defeat that one sin that keeps popping up to tempt you again… and again… and again?

**********************************

Temptation is a very touchy subject for most of us to have to talk about, but I’m going to challenge you. Before we continue, take a note card, sticky note, piece of paper, or something to write on, and write down 3 things that tempt you.

Everyone goes through temptation… but that does not make it okay for us to fall into its trap. So, what exactly is temptation? I have definitely struggled with the meaning of this for the longest time but here’s what it means to me: temptation is a lust that God is putting us on trial for. He is taking something that we so desperately want (but cannot have) and He is asking us to choose between what we lust for and staying faithful to God Himself. James 1:14-15 tells us, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

Though He uses our temptations to test our faithfulness, God does not the cause of our temptation. We choose how we’re tempted by lusting things that God has specifically mentioned are bad for us. For example, in relationships. God says in the Bible that waiting to have sex after marriage is the right thing to do. It is very easy to be tempted with sex and having a good time with the one that you love in the moment. But we know God says that waiting is the right thing to do. We know it is important to stay pure for God, but we’re tempted. He tests our obedience through our temptation to disobey.

Another example would be with friends and family. It is just as easy to be tempted with your friends and family as it is with your special someone. You can easily be influenced by the wrong crowd or struggle due to  a very bad home life with a friend or family member with a drug or alcohol addiction. If your friend or family member offers you something, then it is your job to refuse the temptation of the drugs, alcohol, sex, etc. You must stay faithful to God, no matter how hard the temptation of those things are to resist. This is God’s way of challenging you and the devil’s way of breaking you. But you can do it! And most importantly: you don’t have to do it alone.

We read in 1 Corinthians 10:13, ” There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” God will help us resist temptation!

God is faithful and He doesn’t put anything before you that He believes you would not be able to handle. God has an escape plan made for you in all of your trials (or tests of temptation). You can get out of every situation that might draw you in.

He wants to test you: are you proving to Him that you are capable of being that person that you both know you are?

You have the power to say NO! Remember those temptations I had you write down? Take those and put them somewhere where you will see them every day. You know your temptations, but seeing them will help you remember that saying no will only make your relationship with God stronger. You are not alone and you never have to be.

Alyeah J, guest post author

*************************************************

There’s an old proverb not found in the Bible that says that a thousand step journey begins one step at a time. Look back over the list that Alyeah suggested you write: are any of those temptations to sin particularly daunting?

I know (and hopefully you realize) that none of us will ever achieve perfection. But the command of God’s Word is clear: “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” We are to push a little closer to holiness through the Spirit every day of our Christian lives. Maybe we can’t beat our temptation to a particular sin fully in one hour… one day… one week, but we should be conquering a little more ground every chance we get. We can defeat even our strongest temptations one step at a time.