How to Overcome the Temptations of the Flesh
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.
Temptation; The Way Out
Whether it be drugs and alcohol, anger, or certain lusts of the flesh, we all have temptations. When we feel the urge to give in to our temptations, we must fight back. The devil is out to kill, steal, and destroy. It’s important to remember that all our thoughts come from the spirit realm, and the devil’s go-to weapon is deception. We are in a battle and must recognize when the enemy is whispering lies to us. The Bible warns us in the book of 1 Corinthians saying, “Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” Through Christ, we have the power to overcome the schemes of the enemy. In order to resist certain addictions we must put our faith in God, believe that He loves us and will help us through it. His love never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He will make a way for you to escape if you call out to Him in the midst of temptation.
Cling to God
At times, we all fall short. You may have tried and failed several times to resist certain temptations. You may wonder why God hasn’t freed you completely from those temptations yet. However, I assure you that if you continue to trust in God, He will continue to strengthen you. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Even Paul had certain struggles; in the book of 2 Corinthians, he wrote: “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” I believe that to keep us humble, God allows us to go through difficult times and experience certain challenges so that we don’t forget that we are but dust. When we give our struggles and temptations to God, He gets the glory, not us. In that same chapter, Paul goes on to write, “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Without God’s help, we are likely to give into our temptations. The only way to experience true freedom is to be in Christ. 1 Corinthians 5:17 says that in Christ, we are a new creation; the old things are passed away and behold, all things become new. Therefore, cling to God, and He will uphold you with His right hand.
Our Strong Tower
“Our adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Lions stoop down in the grass and wait for their prey to turn their backs before they pounce on them. That is how the devil works. We are attacked when we least expect it. The only way to survive an attack from the enemy is to call upon the name of the Lord. For the name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous run into it and are safe. Day by day, God is working in the lives of His people. Through each attack, we become stronger. God is perfecting us and will complete the good work he started in each of us; we can be confident in this fact, for God is faithful.”
To God the Glory
Whatever Temptation or challenge you are facing, remember that God will show you a way to escape. We can run to Him, declare His Word, and overcome any situation. It may not happen overnight, but if we continue to fight the good fight of faith, hold on to His promises, remember that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, we will be victorious, and God will get the glory. “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”
