Temptation.
What do you think of when you hear the word?
Oh I believe we are surrounded by spiritual warfare. When I hear the word temptation, my mind goes to big-time sin, ones I am not tempted to commit.
But what about the tiny pulls of flesh on Spirit?
Worldly values can steal even one glance off Heaven …
When a father brings his possessed boy right to Jesus, reporting His disciples could not heal his son (Matthew 17:15-16):
“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible (Matthew 17:20 NLT).
Were they tempted in a big way thinking Jesus Himself was a scam?
Or something more subtle … tempted into seeing Jesus with a thin layer of doubt, looking at His hair and dusty feet, changing their focus to His manhood and off His place in the Godhead, diminishing the power they had the privilege of knowing.
In what ways have you been tempted away from Jesus ever so slightly?
You may not have been aware at the time, only after scratching your head and chasing each ripple effect back to its source do you realize you have been had.
Regardless of your personality, upbringing or spiritual maturity, we are targets for an enemy who plays on our human weakness.
For no one is above temptation except Jesus:
Pride/self-importance: I can do it myself or I can do it best
Critical spirit: judging others and self
Perfectionism: to convince ourselves or others we are worthy
Division over unity
Competition over compassion
Greed over generosity: Things/money over relationship
Closed vs. open
Fear/worry vs. faith
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life-comes not from the Father but from the world (1John 1:15-16).
Sneaky, unseen forces driving to usurp our heart’s desire to live life all for Jesus Christ the King.
Attacking our inner most being and beliefs
Attacking our faith families
Attacking our marriages
Attacking our church communities
Piercing holes in our conviction to plant our feet on His rock.
What do we do?
Each and every day we stay alert and of sober mind (1 Peter 5:8).
“Unguarded strength is actually a double weakness, because that is where the least likely temptations will be effective in sapping strength” (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest).
We keep our eyes fixed on Our Lord and Savior.
Look up so often that your body memory will cue you to look up when you are under attack:
I lift my eyes to the mountains-where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1-2).
Speak His name, Sing His song, Praise His Power, Thank Him for your life.
Be a warrior! Let the enemy know you are prepared in the name of Jesus, that his weak and defeated attempts to tempt are in vain.
Warriors do not assume they will never be tempted because that leaves our faith open and unprotected.
Warriors open their hearts each day to receive His steadfast love and new mercies (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Warriors do not waste time trying to anticipate ways in which the enemy may work, for they know his evil can be like a magician’s slight-of-hand. Poof!
Our job is to guard our most precious love for Him.
Warriors acknowledge Jesus Christ who won the ultimate battle. We armor up not to win but to be used by Him. To glorify His holy name.
Warriors link arms with other sisters and brothers in faith, for we are stronger together than apart (Romans 14:19).
Warriors bow down daily at His throne as prayers pour out with ears open to listen (Ephesians 6:18).
Will you join me in being a faith warrior? Do you need me to pray for you to become a warrior?
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Welcome! To all new followers and thank you to those who have been faithful.
I look forward to your comments on this post. Temptations are not just the things in the distance that don’t affect our daily lives. I am changing my perspective to be better prepared to be His ambassador.
I would be honored to pray for you: juliedibblespeaks@gmail.com
Let’s connect on social media:
https://Facebook.com/jdibble4Him
https://Twitter.com/@julie_dibble
https://Instagram.com/@jayjule03
Have a blessed weekend! I am expecting joy as I bring His truth and light to the women in Indian Head, Pa. Up next week, a guest post and any thoughts God gives me through the weekend’s events.
In His love and grace,
Julie
Julie Dibble, Speaker and Author 