Fighting Temptation

Living for 30 years in Southern California with the constant threat of earthquakes has made our family a bit cautious whenever we go into buildings. And this wariness was especially acute right after the 6.8-magnitude killer earthquake in Northridge, California—the epicenter of which was only three miles from our home.

Even today, years after that quake, as we enter a building, we immediately look for the exit signs. We instinctively wonder, Where are they? And, What is the quickest way to get to them? We aren’t paranoid (or are we?). We must still be looking for the “big one”!

Now, you may never have to contend with earthquakes, but what about your last plane trip? What was the first thing the flight attendants told you? They instructed you on how to exit the plane during an emergency, didn’t they? Exit routes are very important to know, whether for fire safety, plane mishaps, earthquake survival...or even when dealing with temptation.

God’s Promises

Temptation comes into every believer’s life. Not one of us is immune (and you know what we’re talking about!). So how would you like a promise for victory over temptation? Great news—God has a promise for you!

In these reassuring words, God promises you and us deliverance from sin. In other words, this is God’s promise of an “exit.”

God isn’t showing us how to exit our dangerous situations. No, He is showing us how He will provide an exit so we won’t succumb to life’s temptations.

Good or Bad

So you should not view temptation as a bad thing. It is neither bad nor good. It is simply an opportunity for you to reaffirm and strengthen your faith and trust in God.

And here’s another important fact: Temptation should not be viewed as sin. Rather, giving in to a temptation is sin. Temptation, when resisted, can help build your spiritual muscles much like the iron weights in the gym build up physical muscles.

Growing When Temptation Strikes

The more you can hold out against temptation, the stronger your spiritual muscles become. So it’s vital for you to resist temptation as much as you can.

But what if the temptation gets too heavy for you to bear?This is where God’s promise of deliverance comes to your rescue and saves the day. He’s not a spectator in your lives. He’s actively involved and ever present. He wants to help. And when temptations become too heavy to handle on your own, He delivers you by providing an escape route, an exit out of the temptation. The way out.

RESPOND

Father, You are so good to enable us with Your strength in our time of need. With You at our side, we have nothing to fear. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES
Taken from A Couple After God’s Own Heart by Jim and Elizabeth George— Enrich your marriage, develop better ways to communicate & make solid decisions together, and progress toward being a couple after God’s own heart with this book for couples. 

REFLECT

Read this devotion with your spouse and commit to encouraging each other every day to grow spiritually. Keep your eyes on the goal—every day is a day you should both be growing stronger in faith.

REMEMBER

God promises deliverance and to come to your rescue. Call on Him in prayer!