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. 1 Corinthians 10:13
I’m a professional dieter. I’ve tried almost every diet Weight Watchers, Cabbage Soup Diet, Atkins’ Diet, Zone Diet, and a weight loss program consisting of a liquid fast to name a few. The equation is simple to lose weight one must eat less and move more. Dr. Nick Yhantides author of My Big Fat Greek Diet says, “You have to change the way you see before you can change the way you can look.” Finally at my highest weight, recognizing food was an idol for me, I had to deal with the core issue of gluttony and that I loved food more than God.
For the alcoholic, he/she can just stop drinking. I don’t mean to be insensitive to alcoholism and the plight and many do not believe that there is such a thing as food addiction but if you’re addicted to food, one still has to eat. Mentally, one has to shift your thinking from “I’m living to eat” to “I’ve got to eat to live.”
While living in Valley Center and working in San Diego, I knew every fast food restaurant along the route to work and coming home. So on a good day the battle was not too bad but on a frustrating day, I struggle driving past these restaurant, like Mc Donalds, Jack in The Box, and Carl’s. Fighting the temptation the very last restaurant was Kentucky Fried Chicken, if I made it past this place, successfully I’m on my way home without giving into temptation. If I didn’t make it past KFC, what do I do with the evidence of the wrappers such a conundrum?
Now it is time to weigh in to see if there is any progress. The scale is the last reward giver or mood maker. Stepping on, naked, bladder empty, praying that my work is paying off and yes, I’m down three pounds only 15 zillion more pounds to lose. Nothing can rain on my parade.
If we resist the temptation to visit the fast food restaurant, God provides the way out of the temptation by us having good nutritious food at home and when we eat this and receive the reward of the weight loss. It makes it easier next time we’re tempted to say no to the temptation.
When we submit to God and resist the devil he will flee from us. But we have to do our part. What does it mean to submit to God? Daily reading God’s word, praying, memorizing, seeking him, applying his word to our lives. We have to put on the full armor of God.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:11-17
Beloved, when we draw near to God the promise is God will draw near to us. See all the action words, submit, resist, draw, just as we have to resist temptation, we have to put on the helmet of salvation, take up the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit.
Life Lesson: There is a way out of temptation provided by God. Temptation is not a sin.
Song. Because He Lives.
Father God, Thank you Lord that we do not have to give into temptation. Thank you that we can submit to you resist the devil, that when we draw close to you you will draw close to us. You are an amazing God Lord. I Love you. I ask that what ever our temptation is Lord that our relationship with you will be more important than what is tempting us and that we will remain victorious in our walk with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
