There are a few different kinds of distractions that can block our line of sight up to the Big Guy (aka our Heavenly Father, Lord, and Savior). I think I’m gonna make a series that goes through some categories of distractions where I can just spew out some thoughts about each of them. This week’s distraction of choice is temptation.
Temptation
Temptation is something that everyone battles with. This fact has always made it really interesting to me as to why we as a people are not more open about our struggles with it. Anyway, back to the point. Temptation can consume our minds, affecting our thoughts, motives, and actions. Because temptation is such a common thing, though, it also becomes something that we no longer attempt to fight against. We succumb to the ease and the familiarity of whatever might be tempting us at the time, whatever the enemy decides to use to draw us further from God. The enemy uses our naturally addictive personalities and our desire to run from the hard things into something that comforts us to find something in our life that, though it may seem harmless, is an idol. He then twists that into something that we can’t stop thinking about, that we can’t stop going back to, that we prioritize before almost anything else. An extravagant social life, Netflix, food, work, exercise, etc. are some examples of seemingly harmless activities/things that can turn into idols, which in turn become constant temptations. Some less harmless examples could be drinking, drugs, pornography, and more. It’s usually with the latter examples that we develop a sense of guilt that accompanies the temptation.
All these temptations and idols, like I said, become top priority for us. The temptations may become stronger after a rough day, a rough conversation, anything uncomfortable. And instead of immediately turning to the One who can actually help us cope with the uncomfort and move forward with it, we turn to the thing that may give us momentary and illegitimate comfort. Every time we turn into the temptation, we’re actively turning away from God and creating a divide. The good thing, though, is that no matter how many times we turn away, God just comes closer. He wants to meet us amidst our brokenness and our temptation, all we have to do is turn in His direction.
The trying of your faith through temptation leads to patience and wholeness – James 1:2-4,12
God would not let us be tempted by anything for no good reason. He is strengthening our faith in Him. Every time we turn away from the temptation and towards Him, we are building ourselves up. We may be tempted a million times, but turning towards Him even one time out of a million can do so much.
Lord’s Prayer. Lead us not into temptation, Lord – Matthew 6:13;Luke 11:4
Though the simple act of turning towards God in moments of temptation can do so much, it also is so good to just ask God to help you before you’re already in the predicament. When I say “dependence” you say “on the Lord”! “Dependence!”…No? Okay. I mean, I thought it was cool.
Though the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak – Matthew 26:41
It’s not by our strength alone, but through His strength that we are able to resist and turn away from the temptation that can control our life.
God will not allow you to be tempted beyond your ability – 1 Corinth. 10:13
He is so good and loves us so much that He would never put us in a bad situation that we absolutely cannot get out of. He considers our needs and our abilities individually so that every person is cared and loved for in their own way. He is a God that does not get tired with the details. He is excited to love you specifically, in the specific way that you need to be loved. WOW.
GUYS! I am only about ONE THOUSAND from my final fundraising goal!!!!!!!!!! How did that happen so fast? I’ll tell you: YOU GUYS! Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that has sacrificed pieces of their lives to help fund this trip. I am eternally grateful. This has been one of the most spiritually awakening experiences in my life, and I’ve only been on the field for a month and a half. That’s crazy to me. There’s still SO MUCH learning and growing and seeing and experiencing and evangelizing and eating and sleeping and living to do out of the U.S. Come along and experience it with me through these blogs, friends!
BONUS PICTURES
