Temptation often follows victories due to fatigue and the celebration that accompanies them. The most dangerous time for a mountain climber is the descent down the mountain. The exhilaration of reaching the top can lead to overconfidence. The increasing exhaustion from the trip adds to the temptation to overlook safety precautions. This combination can lead …
Being alert and praying sounds easy, but it takes focus, especially when you are tired from a spiritual battle. Jesus knew He was in a spiritual battle as He contemplated His suffering on the cross to pay for the sins of humanity. To gather strength in this battle, Jesus took His disciples to the Mount …
The test of possessions and power may not be on your radar, yet everyone undergoes this trial. We must teach children to share; it does not come naturally. As adults, we may be more subtle, but we often act like small children regarding possessions and power. The Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be …
The test of pride is often a recurring test that we face throughout our lives. We come into the world with a pride nature, but we can overcome this sin with the Lord’s help. We may not know we are caught up in pride because we have blind spots, but our sin is evident to …
Everyone undergoes the test of physical need along our spiritual journey. This earthy life is an ongoing test. Each person has physical needs, such as food and shelter, but will we place those ahead of our spiritual needs? Making spiritual needs a priority is not the way of the world but God’s way. Isaiah 55: …
Using God’s word in a spiritual battle is our greatest weapon to withstand enemy attacks. We see Jesus model this in our story. Our enemy, satan, is a formidable enemy who is cunning and deceptive and devises strategies against us to lead us into sin. Paul gives us insight into this battle, which can only …
Forty is a time of testing. It is a recurring theme in the Bible that can be a time of preparation or coming judgment. In Genesis chapter seven, forty days of rain brought judgment on the earth. The Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years to prepare them for the promised land. Nineveh had …
Keep us from temptation is part of the Lord’s prayer because the Lord knows our weaknesses. We can better resist temptation when it is far from us. Adam and Eve fell into sin because they relied on their strength and became easily manipulated by satan. Instead of staying away from the tree, they were not …
Every person, I believe, wants to be an overcomer, especially in overcoming temptation. Have you ever felt like fighting sin is a losing battle? Every day we face temptations to live the old life instead of God’s new life for us. If you are tempted to succumb to sin, you are not alone. The Lord …
Resisting temptation is something everyone deals with, and we need the Lord’s help to overcome it. Satan tempted our Savior, Jesus, in the wilderness, so He has experienced temptation James 4:7Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.[1]The Greek word “submit” is hupotasso and means “a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, …