It would be like opening a bag of chips with the naive intention of eating only one.Yeah, right! I knew that if I started scratching my bug bite, it would be nearly impossible to stop. I would regret having ever started. Super-itchy bug bites are a lot like temptations. Temptations are itchy! The call to us with urgent voices that scream, “Scratch me! Scratch me!” Yet, in all reality, a little scratch will not satisfy temptation’s itch at all… it will just make matters worse. When we scratch the itch of temptation, the itch does not diminish. To the contrary, it increases. What do you need to run from today? Have you determined in your heart to honor God in everything? Temptation comes in all shapes and sizes. It might be calling your name from your pantry – or from your computer – or in a sale ad – or from a bottle – or from another cubicle in your office. What temptations do you face today? Name them and run the other way! Don’t scratch that itch! Determine in your heart that you will choose the path that brings honor to God, and call on Him for strength. Dealing with temptation is not easy. When that nasty spider bit my arm, I struggled not to scratch the bite. I had to re-direct my thinking to persevere through the temptation. When we come face to face with temptations, God’s strength is always available to us. We need God’s strength. Ours will fail us. Friend, when you resist temptation: you position yourself in the peace and protection of God, your faith is mobilized and your character is strengthened. - GIG
Posted on: Fri, 02 Aug 2013 13:28:19 +0000