Handling Temptation

(1 Corinthians 10:13) “No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it.”

(Ephesians 6:13-18) “For this reason, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to take a stand whenever evil comes. And when you have done everything you could, you will be able to stand firm.”

“Stand firm, therefore, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and being firm-footed in the gospel of peace. In addition to having clothed yourselves with these things, having taken up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one, also take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

“Pray in the Spirit at all times with every kind of prayer and request. Likewise, be alert with your most diligent efforts and pray for all the saints.”

Sometimes you might feel that the devil has a personal interest in you because of the constant temptations you daily face. But don’t despair, as the temptations you face are common to all mankind and they have not been specifically created for you. Ever since Adam and Eve, the devil has been in the business of tempting us to disobey God and God has been giving us a way out. Either He gives us an exit to completely avoid temptation by making us turn away and run in the opposite direction, or He provides the weapons necessary to face it and strengthen our faith.

All temptations originate in our minds and are spiritual attacks that need to be fought spiritually by filling our minds with God’s Word. That is why Paul advises us to put on the full armor of God in order to stand in victory having resisted all types of temptations. Every one of the parts of the armor covers every area of our life that needs protecting from the attacks of Satan.

We need to take them seriously as failing to protect any one of those areas makes us vulnerable and weak when facing temptation. Think about it. As a soldier, we need all the equipment necessary in order to both attack and defend ourselves. When we are missing one piece, like a shield, helmet, or sword, we become vulnerable and our level of self-confidence diminishes.

Every day we are confronted with lies that challenge the truth we know about Christ. We face accusations for our past and current failures that make us doubt the righteousness God has given us. We face situations that demand an answer from the Prince of Peace, and challenges that require us to use the Word of God combined with our faith to overcome them.

(“Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in the ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters so that no one falls behind or drops out. Keep your eyes open.” – Bob Gass)

If we continue to fall in sin, then we need to check which piece of armor we are missing or which area of our lives we have ignored.

Prayers

• God, You are the Spirit of understanding, the life giving Spirit, and the generous Spirit.
• Thank You for understanding that we need your help when facing temptation.
• Forgive us for making excuses and not using the weapons you have provided for us to be victorious against any of the devil’s schemes.
• We ask for your help to understand how to fight these temptations and how to avoid being in situations where we can be easily tempted.
• We put on right now the full armor of God and resist the evil one.
• Remind us to wear Your armor daily and continue to be strong in moving forward in your will.
• We declare that Christ is our righteousness, our source of faith, our salvation, our good news of peace, He is the truth, and He is all we need.
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• We ask in Jesus’ Mighty name. Amen