“We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) The reason we are easily defeated by temptation is because we try to resist it instead of refocusing. What you resist, persists. The more you think about something, the more you’re attracted to it. So, if you want to defeat temptation, don’t fight it. Change your focus! “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21 NIV). If your mind is filled with good thoughts, there’s no room for ones that may tempt you to sin. During the pandemic, while you’re staying home more, you may face recurring temptations. Whatever those areas are for you, you’ll get discouraged if you keep trying to fight against them, particularly if you continually give in. The key is to refocus your attention on something else. Here’s an example—if you’re tempted while watching TV, don’t keep telling yourself, “I’m not going to watch this.” Instead, pick up the remote and change the channel. Temptation always starts with a thought. If Satan can’t get your attention, you can’t be tempted. Advertisers use the same tactic. They get your attention and then engage your emotions. So you move from attention to emotions to action. Have you ever experienced this: Someone asks you, “Are you hungry right now?” And even though you’re not hungry, you start to feel hungry. Or they ask, “Are you tired?” And you answer, “You know, I hadn’t really thought about it, but now that you mention it, I am feeling a little worn down.” Whatever gets your attention, gets you. That’s why, when you’re tempted, you need to change your focus. Philippians 4:8 says, “ . . . My friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable” (GNT). The more you fight a tempting thought or feeling, the more it controls you. So don’t fight it! Refocus and replace your thoughts with things that are good and make you more like Jesus.
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“When you make a promise to God, keep it as quickly as possible” (Ecclesiastes 5:4 GNT).
As you start a new year, you may be making some resolutions. Some might be commitments to yourself, your career, or your family. Others may be promises to God. If you make a promise to God, you should be quick to keep it. Just like delayed obedience is disobedience, a delayed promise is an unfulfilled promise. Ecclesiastes 5:4 says it clearly: “When you make a promise to God, keep it as quickly as possible” (GNT). Another promise to keep is to run quickly from temptation. With temptation, you need both preventative and emergency tactics. Preventative tactics mean that you work to keep yourself out of tempting situations. But today let’s focus on emergency tactics—what to do when you are being tempted. The Bible clearly says what to do with temptation: “Run from all evil things” (1 Timothy 6:11 NLT). That’s right. When you feel tempted to do something self-defeating or dishonoring to God, you should move out of the situation rapidly. What should you not do? Don’t argue with temptation. Don’t fight it. Why? Because you’re going to lose. If you’re watching something on television that tempts you to lust, change the channel. If you struggle with alcohol, run far away from the bar. One specific temptation the Bible tells us to run from in 1 Corinthians 10:14 is the worship of idols. “Wait a minute,” you might say. “I don’t have idols in my house.” Asked another way: What person or thing do you idolize? Success? Beauty? A favorite athlete or sport? A certain celebrity? Social media? Anything you put before God is an idol. Today few of us have idols that look like stone or wooden figures. Instead, we carry our idols in our wallets, watch them on TV, or park them in our driveways. No matter what your idols are and no matter what your temptations are, the strategy is clear: Run away. Don’t argue. Don’t fight. Run. If you don’t want to get stung by the bees, get away from the hive. So as you enter this new year, resolve to do two things quickly: Keep your promises to God, and run from temptation. |
AuthorTaken from Daily Hope by Rick Warren. Categories
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