...other meditations

sweet temptations

temptations come in many different forms. most of the time, they are beautiful to the eye, brilliant to the ear, soft to the touch, fragrant to the nostrils and sweet to the mouth. if temptation didn't come in such a great package, it wouldn't be much of a temptation after all. during my recent dealings with temptation and further study of it, i have learned a few more things that i must never forget.

temptation in of itself is not sin. however, my behavior during and after temptation strikes, determines my sinfulness or not. God allows temptation into my life to strengthen me and to purify me. yet, the devil pushes it onto me, waves it around in my face, and uses it for his purposes of wanting to see me sin. what i choose to do while i am being tempted is very critical to my spiritual well-being.

no temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 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 stand up under it. 1 corinthians 10:13

after reading these words, i feel ashamed for every time i have given in to temptation. even though everyone experiences temptations, and temptations themselves are unavoidable, i have failed to resist many times. in my journal, i wrote a personal commentary on the above scripture verse that i would like to share with you…

so, who am i? what makes me so special? why must i believe that giving in to my temptations is an inevitability? the word of God clearly states ‘ no temptation has seized you except what is common to man.' my temptation is no more or no less a hardship than anyone else here on earth. why do i seem to feel that my temptation is so special and so difficult that no one else would understand and so i just can't help but give in to it!? but, quickly, i have forgotten the following words of the verse ‘ and God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.' see tamara? nothing special and nothing too difficult. nothing over-the-top and nothing too over-the-edge. God sets the pace; He sets the limitations to my temptations. He is not giving me anything i can not handle without His help. ‘ but when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.' i seem to be blind to God's solutions for me. i am not taking the time to stop, look and listen. i'm not giving myself the chance to resist; i railroad right into sin. i'm not even giving God the chance to see me through it. and He, so desperately, wants to help.

it's time that i face the truth of what i am actually doing when i give in to temptation. i am loving my sinful actions more than i love God. i can try, but i can not hide my sin from my Father. He is the omnipotent, all-knowing God. His light shines brightly into the darkest recesses of my heart. forgive me, Lord.

throughout this time of reflection, i have truly seen God differently. He not only wants me to resist temptation, but He wants me to grow into the person He would have me be by staying clear of sin. my God is my unfailing cheerleader section, my dependable accountability partner, my unbending disciplinarian and the unending lover of my soul. He desires the absolute best for me and from me!

seeking resistance in God's power,

tamara