Last year my pastor presented the idea of starting off the year with a spiritual experience, the Daniel’s Fast. I was a little weary at first but I set out to do the fast and it was what my soul needed. The relationship I built with God set me on a right path for the year. However, I was not 100% true to the fast. Why?! Because I allowed temptation to win me over.
I will do the fast this year and get the full experience and growth I can possibly attain. I will not allow temptation to rule me over. Here’s how I realized I can and will do it.
Joyce Meyer says we all face temptation, it’s an unavoidable part of life. The question is not, “Will you be tempted?” The question is, “When you’re tempted, will you be ready?”
She notes five things that make all the difference in overcoming temptation.
First, you’ve got to be wise. Think about the choices you’re making and the consequences before you make them. Wisdom looks ahead.
Next, you have to believe that you can resist temptation. Condemnation, guilt and shame work off of momentum, if you stop them early, they lose their power, but once they get rolling, they’re hard to stop.
Third, think of facing temptation as normal life. If you’re expecting a fight, you’ll always be ready.
Fourth, avoid areas of weakness. Don’t put yourself in situations where you can easily fall. If you struggle with managing your money, don’t go to the mall when you can’t afford to buy anything!
And finally, don’t give yourself too much credit. We don’t graduate from being tempted. It’s so easy to think you’ve matured beyond stumbling, and once that happens, you make yourself an easy target.
In in essence, How to Resist Temptation:
*Be wise
*Believe that you can resist temptation
*Think of facing temptation as normal life
*Avoid areas of weakness
*Don’t give yourself too much credit
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