Each of us finds ourselves in tempting situations whether it be verbal, behavioural or in our thoughts. These daily temptations try to entice us into a worldly way of living and thinking. They are either prompted by our own fleshly desires, our momentary feelings, or a unique set up by the devil who seeks someone to devour. How we respond to the temptation is what’s important and our focus today.

A couple of weeks ago, I passed by my friend’s apartment to watch some football matches together with him. It sounded like a great idea at the time since I had been looking forward to one of the games and having company would be a bonus especially dimming the fact that he was supporting my rival team. What I didn’t allow myself to admit, was the motive of this guy. I say admit because I had on a couple of occasions explained to my friend that I was not interested in a beyond-friendship-relationship with him which he always seemed to understand but yet not. In that effect, I was careful not to get too close for comfort…

As we got to the second football match (I was more interested in the first), I began to kind of dose off since I was tired and it was a bit late…nonetheless, I was very much aware of my surroundings. My friend was seated on a different couch from me, engrossed in the game, while I was watching in short doses. Suddenly, my friend was right on me kissing my face and neck which I must say felt good and thus I entertained it for a split second. The next minute I was up and on my feet ready to leave even if he tried hard to keep a firm grip on me just in case I continued to give in to his physical affection.

Well, we live in a world that both endorses and condones ‘following your feelings’, ‘going with the flow’, hooking up’ , ‘one night stands’ and many other immoral and irresponsible practises. However, as believers governed by Kingdom principles, ‘we are not controlled by our feelings’, ‘we go with the flow of the Spirit’,’we make love to our spouse’, ‘we have sex within the bracket of marriage’…totally opposite to the worldly norm.

My experience above is only one aspect of life but we know temptations come in different packages and in all facets of life. It could be the temptation to betray, to take, to gossip, to steal, to over-do, to disrespect, to hate, to manipulate, to watch, to touch, to have more than enough, to listen to,  the list is endless. The temptation is not the issue but how we respond to it. Do we yield this once? Does it matter if I yield or not? Why shouldn’t I yield? Who will know?

Yielding to temptation is sin! Let’s not trivialise things and allow sin to creep in.  One “little” yielding to temptation leads to another and another and it soon becomes a habit and a lifestyle of sin; death! You and I know that we have a high calling into a life of holiness, a life of integrity. We must let our “yes” be “yes” and our “no” be “no”, stand for the truth, consider others, be an example in speech and in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity…

Now, given that our aim is not to yield, how can we ensure this in the face of temptation?

Here are a few vital requirements:

1. The Holy Spirit—>Walk in the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. When we incline our ears to the HolySpirit, He is sure to guide us each step of the way. Many times our feelings are contrary to the Spirit and it’s a constant tag-of-war. However, we can learn to be aware of the HolySpirit and to make our feelings subject to Him. I am not saying that we should deny what we feel but that it shouldn’t dictate how we react…walk by the spirit!
2. God’s word—>Studying and meditating upon the word of God on a daily basis awakens our spirit to the mind of God. Moreover, the worldly desires that we once had will slowly fade away and Godly desires will take root in our spirit. We will start desiring what God desires and be disgusted by what He hates. That which was once a temptation or obsession becomes a repulsion. Furthermore, if we keep pursuing that lifestyle of hiding God’s word in our heart, we will be sure not to yield to temptation.
3. A principled life—> We should purpose in our hearts to go beyond studying and meditating on the word but to also obey that which the word of God teaches. Make a conscious effort to not only pre-meditatively chew on scriptural instructions but to also write the learnt instructions down to specific detail of possible scenarios that they could apply to. One of the many principles I have written down that could have guarded me from being in the scenario in my story above is; “do not be alone with a guy in a private place if any of you have feelings for each other.”
4. Resistance—> A man with an obsession is a man who has very little resistance. Let us not put ourselves in vulnerable situations; going to places we shouldn’t, mixing with people who do not positively influence us, watching videos that are of negative influence to us, listening to words (through music, movies etc.) that are against what we believe. All in all, in every temptation there is always a way out, a way of escape. Do not stare at temptation, in fact, run!!!!

Finally, when we begin to consciously “yield not”, it develops into a habitual pattern and then a lifestyle of victory! We become confident overcomers in the face of temptation…all by the grace and to the glory of God!

Have a victorious week!!!

James 1:1-18, Luke 11:34, 1Corinthians 10:13, Romans 3:23, James 5:12, 1Timothy4:12, Ephesians6:14, 1Peter1:15-16.