Thursday, June 30



“Its fruit looked delicious…So she…ate it.”  Ge 3:6 NLT

Overcoming temptation (4)

Let’s look at the first time in Scripture anyone was tempted and see what we can learn. The Bible says, “The serpent was the shrewdest of all the [creatures] the Lord God had made…he asked the woman, ‘Did God really say…?’” (v. 1 NLT). First, Satan will blind you to all the good things God has in store for you. Then he’ll take mood-altering substances like drugs or alcohol, or somebody else’s husband or wife, or Internet porn, and tell you it won’t hurt you. Don’t bite! He’s a liar! Don’t believe him! “Temptation comes from our own desires…These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters” (Jas 1:14-16 NLT). Any weakness that’s constantly indulged, excused, denied, or hidden has the power to enslave you. Failure to identify and target your weakness strengthens it. Ignoring your areas of vulnerability makes defeat inevitable. Satan has assigned certain people to feed your weaknesses. Be discerning. Your weakness will be drawn to any friendship that accepts it, enjoys it and feeds on it. It has an agenda of its own—to take over your life and sabotage God’s plan for you. It’ll always bond with the wrong people and make you uncomfortable in the presence of the right ones. And it can emerge at any time, including your latter years. So how do you overcome your weakness? Through willpower? No, through God’s power! And it’s available to you today—so reach for it!