Trust God With Your Temptations!

‘No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it’ (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Temptation comes to everyone and nobody is exempted from it.  The Bible never says that you will not be tempted.  Our opening verse in the Amplified version explained it so well : ‘for no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin, no matter how it comes or where it leads) has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man (that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear).  But God is FAITHFUL (to HIS WORD and to His compassionate nature), and He (can BE TRUSTED) not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will (ALWAYS) also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.’  Wow!  It is explained so beautifully.

Temptations are to be resisted regardless of the intensity of them.  In the Bible Apostle James wrote in 1:12-15, ‘blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.  Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’, for God can not be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.’  We have to endure when temptations come.  God is proving us through temptations and once we are approved, we receive the crown of life which the Lord has promise to those who love Him.

Don’t be surprised when temptation hits you.  It may come in any form and through anyone or through anything.  But Jesus said in Mat 26:41, ‘watch and pray, lest you ENTER INTO TEMPTATION.  The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.’  Before you start your day, pray that you will be cautious and sober against every temptation comes your way.  Ask the Holy Spirit to sustain you to endure.  This is the very vital responsibility of every child of God.  

Paul wrote in Phil 2: 12-13 (AMP), ‘therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed (my suggestions), so now, not only (with the enthusiasm you would show) in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling  (self-distrust with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, WATCHFULNESS AGAINST TEMPTATION, TIMIDLY SHRINKING FROM WHATEVER MIGHT OFFEND GOD AND DISCREDIT THE NAME OF CHRIST).  Not in your own strength for it is God who IS ALL THE WHILE EFFECTUALLY AT WORK IN YOU (ENERGIZING AND CREATING IN YOU THE POWER AND DESIRE) both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

When we pray the Holy Spirit energizes us the desire to please God. He prompts us, warning us and reminding us to be watchful against temptations.  He empowers you to endure and shrink from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ.  Hallelujah! Amen. 

Above all, God is Faithful and Compassionate in His nature will not let you tempted more than you can bear and He will show you a way out too.  So trust God with your temptations.  The Bible says in the book of Hebrews 4:15-16, ‘for we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are YET WITHOUT SIN.  Let us therefore COME BOLDLY to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.’

God’s Word in your heart will keep you from the evil one from yielding to his enticements.  But you have to meditate God’s Word in order to say while you are tempted.  Regardless of how many times you failed God, remember! He will not leave you nor forsake you till you gain the strength to resist every temptation.  He is faithful and He always will be because that is His nature.  He will teach you and guide you by His Spirit in you and enable you to endure till you are approved by Him.  Amen.

Pray with me now:  Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for the power of God that is working within me.  I am designed to resist the enemy and not to give in to his enticements.  I am an overcomer and overcome the world, flesh and the devil by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of my testimony.  I trust You with my life Oh Lord, for You are faithful to preserve my soul and keep me from the evil one.  You are my sure confidence and keep my foot from being caught.  In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study : Heb 2:18; Psalm 119: 11, 97; Prov 4:23