Purpose Driven Life Day 26

Day 26, May 26th, "Growing Through Temptation" 

    James 1:12 says, "Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out it is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and and more life." Every believer is faced with temptations, every temptation is an opportunity to do good. Temptation is simple a choice. We can choice to do whats wrong or what is right. "Every time you choose to do good instead of sin, you are growing in the character of God." (Rick Warren). Temptation is Satan's primary method to destroy us. The closer we get to God the more temptations he will place in front of us. Galatians 5:22-23 says, "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!" As believers we have the Holy Spirit in us to help protect us from temptations. "Fruit always matures and ripens slowly. God develops the fruit of the Spirit in your life by allowing you to experience circumstances in which you're tempted to express the exact opposite quality" (Rick Warren). Temptation helps teach us things. It teaches us to love by putting unlovely people around us to love. It teaches us joy in the midst of sorrow, when we turn to him. "Happiness depends on external circumstances but joy is based on your relationship to God." (Rick Warren). Temptation teaches us peace by us trusting God in circumstance we are tempted to worry or be afraid. This one is my biggest temptation and I fail over and over again. Worry is a problem for me. Temptation develops patience by putting circumstances where we are forced to wait. Again, another huge temptation for me. I am very patient with other people but when it comes to myself, I am not patient at all. Integrity is built by defeating the temptation to be dishonest. What ever you are struggling with know that it is normal. "You can't claim to be God if you've never been tempted to be bad." (Rick Warren). As believers we are all tempted, its how you respond to temptation that matters most.

HOW TEMPTATION WORKS

   - Satan is predictable when it comes to temptation, its a four step process.
        1. Identifies a desire inside of us
            - This could be a normal desire or a sinful desire. He plants temptation in our minds. Mark 7:21-23 says, "For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile us."
       2. Doubt...is it really wrong?
           - Satan starts to plant a seed telling you its really not wrong, its not that bad, everyone is doing it, etc.
       3. Deception
           - Satan can not tell the truth. He makes you think it is okay to do it. Anything he tells us is either untrue or half-true.
       4. Disobedience
           - We act on the temptation and do what is wrong.

OVERCOMING TEMPTATION
       1. Refuse to be intimidated

          - We will never outgrow temptation. As believers we will always be tempted in one way or another. We need to think of temptation as a compliment. Satan doesn't tempt those that are already doing evil. Even Jesus was tempted but, he never sinned. "You can't keep the Devil from suggesting thoughts, but you can choose not to dwell or act on them." (Rick Warren). The closer we become to God the more Satan will try and tempt us.
       2. Recognize your pattern of temptation and be prepared for it
          - Each of us have certain situations that make us more vulnerable than others. Some of us may be tempted by worry, lust, trust, etc. We have to recognize our patterns that we fall into and avoid them and pray over them. Who are you with when you are tempted? Where are you at when you are tempted? What time of day? Proverbs 4:26-27 says, "Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust."
       3. Request God's help
           - Heaven/God have a 24 hour emergency hotline. Send up a prayer flare when you feel tempted. Psalm 50:15 says, "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." We need to cry out to God! Shout to the heavens. "The Bible guarantees that our cry will be heard because Jesus is sympathetic to our struggle." (Rick Warren). Jesus was tempted throughout his whole life, he understand the struggle we face. Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet he did not sin."

"Temptations keep us dependent on God." (Rick Warren). Without God, we would give in to all our temptations. Next time you are tempted send up a prayer flare.

Point to Ponder: Every temptation is an opportunity to do good.
Verse to Remember: "God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12
Question to Consider: What Christlike character quality can I develop by defeating the most common temptation I face?