Oh Thou Wicked Temptress - Life

"But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.”
– James 1:14

Temptations come in so many different ways that I propose that there will never be a day void of temptation in your life. We are tempted by the desire for material possessions, by lustful desires, by the anger, self pity and resentment that crowds our thoughts of others. You must agree that there is a significant amount of people trying to recover from addictions – drugs, sex, food, alcohol, … Do you think that just because someone accepts Christ and goes through some counseling that the devil throws up his hands in defeat, sits down and pouts? No of course not.
I’ve known addicts that have been through recovery programs. Exit completely clean, spiritually fed, committed to serving the Lord for the rest of their days. They move right back into the apartment they left. How many times within a day is their dealer sitting on the couch with his wares on the table. It doesn’t have to be taken literally either. We are all sinners – yes everyone of us. For you see, temptations enter our lives in so many different ways in this day and age. The very screen you are looking at to read this devotional is one very powerful source of temptation.

The Almighty Jehovah has burned cities to the ground with a rain of fire for so much less than that which we take as common behavior today. We are enticed through e-mails, chat rooms, music, videos, pictures, shortcuts to success and financial windfalls and numerous other methods meant to convince you that it’s okay. Pay attention to the amount of advertising and temptations that bombard your senses each day through television, the internet, conversations at work, advertising in magazines & newspapers and your own inherent selfishness. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you are above it all either, that you are transparent to temptation.

It’s important to recognize your weaknesses and have a plan for dealing with situations. One of the best things coming out of the 12 step recovery process is Step 1: Acknowledge that you are an addict. You see realizing that you are human and that you are weak and prone to a sinful nature opens the door to seek help from the Lord and to develop a plan of action to avoid temptation. Take a moment to capture a written down list of your weaknesses where temptation will cause you to be dragged away from God’s plan. Now below each of these write 3 specific steps you will take to avoid temptation in each of these areas. Make this a part of your daily prayers – put this list on as armor in the morning to protect you from falling throughout the day and remain in touch with God’s word through a daily quiet time.

(c) Sondove Enterprises, 2010
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