Purpose Driven Life Day 27

Day 27, May 27th, "Defeating Temptation"

    - 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." There is always a way out when we are tempted. God never gives us more than what we can handle. At times, we may think he does but he promises he won't. Each temptation is a struggle, it will make us stronger once we conquer and defeat it. There are four biblical keys to defeating temptation.

BIBLICAL KEYS TO DEFEATING TEMPTATION 
     1. Refocus your attention on something else
         - No where in the bible does it say resist temptations but, it does say resist the devil because temptations come from the devil. When temptations arise in our mind and we try and block the thoughts we only reinforce them in our memory. "The more you fight a feeling, the more it consumes and controls you. You strengthen it every time you think." (Rick Warren). If we continue to say "I will not do (fill in the blank).", we are only keeping it in our mind regardless if we are saying we will not do something. We need to turn our attention to something else, channel our energy else where. Find something to get your mind off your temptations. That may be working out, reading, journalling, working; find what works for you. "The battle for sin is won or lost in your mind. Whatever gets your attention will get you." (Rick Warren). The more we think about something the stronger it takes hold of us. Once we place our mind on something else, the temptation loses its power. "Spiritually, your mind is the most vulnerable organ." (Rick Warren). We need to occupy our mind with God's word

and good thoughts, positive energy. I have been know to be a negative Nancy and I am working on becoming more positive and developing my mind to think positive always because, what you think is so important. Also, its more attractive to be a positive versus a negative person. Philippians 4:8 says, "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." The more we manage our mind the better off we will be. We need to monitor our intake from the media. Social media is a great thing and also a bad thing. Everyone puts on there very best on social media, we don't see the other side of peoples lives and we think we are less because of it. I encourage anyone to take a fast from social media. Once I finish my 100 happy days challenge, I will be doing a 40 day fast from social media. In this day and age, a lot of us are addicted to social media and our phone. I will blog about that experience once I get to it.
     2. Reveal your struggle to a godly friend or support group
         - It is important that when we have a stronghold or temptation that we tell at least one person. The first step is admitting it to a friend so they can help you and pray for you. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble." It's hard to fight battles alone. "Some temptations are only overcome with the help of a partner who prays for you, encourages you, and holds you accountable." (Rick Warren). This is why it is important to have fellowship with other Christians. James 5:16 says, "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has power and produces wonderful results." Find someone that can pray with you. Prayer is powerful and wherever two are gathered God promises to be there. When you are in a relationship or married pray together every night. "Problems grow in the dark and become bigger and bigger, but when exposed to the light of truth, they shrink." (Rick Warren). Always confess your sins and temptations. Tell your partner your problems and pray about them together, don't keep secrets.
      3. Resist the Devil
          - James 4:7 says, "So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." We have to fight back and resist the devil. We are like soldiers on the battlefield. Ephesians
6:17 says, "Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." By getting saved we put on our helmet to protect us. The weapon that we have is the word of God, scripture. Having memorized scripture is like having bullets in our gun. When the devil comes with us with temptations, we use our weapon of scripture and shoot out our memorized scripture at the devil and he flees. I challenge you to memorize as much scripture as you can so you can have enough ammo when the devil comes at you.
      4. Realize your vulnerability
          - We can never let our guard down. The moment we do the devil will be there to take over. We can't put ourselves in tempting situations where we know we will give in to our strongholds. 1 Corinthians 10:12 says, "If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall." We are all vulnerable, we must always keep our guard up.

Point to Ponder: There is always a way out.
Verse to Remember: "God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it." 1 Corinthians 10:13b
Question to Consider: Who could I ask to be a spiritual partner to help me defeat a persistent temptation by praying for me?

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?