Motivational Mondays #13: Temptation, Let's Talk About!

Welcome to Motivational Mondays!

First things first, what is Motivational Mondays? Just like it sounds, to motivate, to empower, and to encourage you on the first day of a fresh week. I don't know about you but Mondays can be a drag for me, so sometimes words of encouragement and positivity are helpful to start my day off right.

Motivational Monday's topic is: Temptation

Temptation is all around us. We can never get away from it. It’s displayed on the TV shows we watch, commercials, our everyday life, social media, it’s everywhere. Why does the world make temptation so accessible? Surely we must be subjected to it to challenge the threat by resistance.

When faced with temptation, What is your first response? Are you quick to rationalize the consequences or do you go with it and take the risk?

“Until we no longer have a body of sin we will be tempted to commit sin. But in reality, every temptation is an opportunity to overcome and to get victory over sin! With the word of God as our weapon we can always resist temptation!”

Quoted from Active Christianity

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Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You

Psalm 119:11.

How To Resist:

There are some steps that we can all take to resist the temptations that the devil throws our way. Let’s dive into them. There’s prayer, preparation, knowing yourself well, recognizing temptation, and exercising the word.

Prayer

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Like I said before, there’s no escaping temptation so prayer and supplication is your go-to when dealing with temptation. If you read The Lord’s Prayer it reads, “ and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Mathew 6:13). This prime example is put in The Lord’s Prayer simply because God knows we will be tempted. Our flesh is weak but if we are grounded in prayer, humble and devoted prayer at that, then this is our covering in resisting temptation. God is a forgiving God, and he knows we will be tempted, so asking God for wisdom, strength, self-control, and discernment will give us the tools needed to be vigilant in resisting the fiery darts of your adversary.

Prayer Changes Things!

Preparation

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Ephesians 6:10-11.

We should always be ready. PeriodT. We need to stay ready so we don't have to get ready. In Ephesians 6:12-18, it boldly exclaims why we MUST be prepared at ALL times and what we ALL must equip ourselves with daily.

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

If we choose to not do this then we are showing up to a vengeful battle ill-prepared and subject to fail. Cover yourself at all costs. Fail to plan and you’re planning to FAIL.

Knowing Yourself

If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

Matthew 4:3

The Devil will try and tempt you into giving into sin by manipulating you into doubting who you are. He did Jesus this way by trying to tempt him into doing something to prove who he was. The Devil will do anything he can to exploit any insecurity that you have so that he can gain control of your mind and heart.

By a show of comments how many of us have been dared to do something crazy by others like stealing, or lying. When you think about it the issue was not based on whether or not we could or would do the dare but whether we were afraid to do it. How many of us did those dares? I know I sure did. But all I did was prove that I feared their disapproval so much that I was not willing to do what was right. The best response that we can give the devil when he dares us with temptation is to exercise the holy clap backs that the word of God provides and walk away. This lets the Devil know that we are secure in who we are and cannot be moved to give into sin.

Knowing yourself falls under knowing what your triggers are. If going to clubs, hanging out with certain groups of people, watching certain shows or movies, being alone with certain people, or going to certain places are going to tempt you then you should prepare yourself so that you cannot be tempted to engage in sin. If you know you're not supposed to be eating sugar and you do it anyway because you have no self-control, then Houston! We have a problem. Know and love yourself enough to not fold under temptation.

Recognizing Temptation

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1 John 2:16

First and foremost, the mind is a battleground. It is full of all types of wickedness. We fall into temptation by first pondering on the thought. Temptation and sin start with the mind, always. WE have to be thinking it first, then follow the action of doing it.

Once you agree and accept temptation then you have committed sin.

Victory

OVER

Temptation

Exercising the Word

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8

The best way to fight temptation is through the understanding of the word of God. Temptation can be hard to fight because it starts first in the mind, and chances are if you have thought about it long enough, you may fall into sin when tempted. The devil likes to play these deceitful tricks. The Bible explains to us that it is harder for the devil to deceive you when your mind is focused on things that are true, honest, just, pure, holy, and righteous.

An example of this is when the devil tried to tempt Jesus into sin and Jesus was right there with a holy clap back ready for the Devil at every situation. Jesus would use his holy clap back at the Devil by saying “It is written…” and then he quoted God’s holy word which was more than sufficient to put the Devil in his place. In order to exercise the word you have to first be prepared and have an understanding of the word. You cannot use the scriptures as a holy clap backs against the Devil like Jesus did if you do not know them, or spend time in the word. There is not any power in what you do not know or understand.

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**I hope everyone has a safe and blessed week and I will see you all on Saturday for our Weekly Topic Saturdays**

~Just Breathe...A Golden Dream~

Amen.