Temptations

We may not want to give into the temptations in our heart, but emotionally in our mind we hold onto the perceived pleasure the sinful action or behavior may bring. We may say, “I don’t want to lie or cuss or look at pornography or answer the call of alcohol or any voice of addiction anymore, and we very well might mean it from the bottom of our heart with all sincerity. That is great, but are we disconnected emotionally. I mean do our emotions control us. Our mind envisions the pleasure of the sin. This happens to us all, but it is how we act at this moment that shows what is controlling us. Is it our emotions, or is it our heart that only wants to please God?

(The paragraph above is my recollection of others' teachings. I apologize for not remembering the sources from which the above information was compiled.)

For me I have struggled with sexual addiction for far too long. I have asked, pleaded, and accepted God’s deliverance from this sexual sin many times. Now it is time for me to practice self-control, and live like I am forgiven and delivered.

Recently, I have been taking a deep, hard look at how this sin issue is controlling me. I found that emotions are controlling me. I have fallen for desires believing would yield pleasure. However, falling into the temptation always leaves me lying in a pit full of shame and guilt salivating to devour me. I know this, so why do I fall? Like the adage, “To complete a process repeatedly and expect a different result is insanity.” Sometimes, I give in because, I think, “I will eventually. So, I might as well get it over with.” Or simply my flesh is weak, and I do not attempt to look for a God honoring alternative choice. I also recognize my strength to endure the temptation has been relevant to the environment. If I am home alone, and lustful thoughts come I am more apt to succumb, than when I at home with my wife or daughter. Now I am taking steps to control my emotions and make God honoring decisions.

First, I mentally go through the process of what happened last time I allowed my emotions to control me. Then I ask myself, “Is the decision I am about to make God honoring?” This is helping, but I still realize my flesh is weak, but the indwelling Holy Spirit is strong, and I search for the arms of God as soon as I fall even before I commit the sin.

Now for practicing self-control, for me I have planned actions in place when temptations come. I do one or more of the following depending on accessibility: call my wife, do something constructive with my daughter, call a friend or mentor, read the Bible, pray, or remove myself from the tempting environment.

But most importantly, I am allowing the power of Jesus living in me to search me an excise this spiritually lethal sin, which honestly is not clear-cut and easy. This, reminds me of some words from A.W. Tozer’s The Pursuit of God. Here is my version from an excerpt from the book.

- From us we must remove the entirety of the sin plant that has grown strong, and this separation is not easy. In fact it is very painful as we pull the deeply rooted sin, still wrapped tightly around places dark within us we don’t allow visitors. We believe, finally, after many emotional battles and prayer, the sin is removed. Then, returning to find the sin’s roots has sprouted again. Thus, sinful behavioral habits must be removed with constant conscious effort of allowing the Holy Spirit to spot the sinful nature at its first forming, then pulling and digging to the very ends of the root system and removing the still bloody sin from us and disrupting the soil bed and planting God honoring behaviors and actions to guard the sin seed from the soil of our heart.
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I know that Jesus is not still on the cross or entombed, but He is alive and lives in me, and God has forgiven all my sins. Now, I just need to let Jesus live His life through me, as I continue to surrender all I am and have been given to manage to God. I know the power of the Holy Spirit living in me is greater than any temptation that can come my way, and continually, devouring and digesting the Word will give me divine wisdom and discernment to make God honoring decisions. Furthermore, His power is greater that I will ever comprehend, and amidst all temptations, God always provides an escape. God has promised the crown of life for those who withstand temptations giving God all the glory.

A few of the many words of God that have helped me battle my addictions.

John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Ephesians 1:19-20 “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.”

Psalms 31:5 “Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.”

Ephesians 3:20 “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

1 Corinthians 10: 13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

1 Peter 1 13-16 “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ ”