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(Thanking God through Temptation)

I had a peculiar moment the other day. The reason I call this “peculiar” is because it happened on a Sunday, right after my personal early morning devotion with my Lord. As I began getting dress for church, a memory of a negative encounter came to my mind. It was an incident that happened with another person that made me very uncomfortable.The individual had said some pretty unpleasant things to me. Being a Christian, I was careful of my response. I dared not speak the things I really wanted to say. Though I held back, I was furious!

To my surprise, I though I had truly repented and dealt with that issue. But now, here on this beautiful Sunday morning, after personal devotion, getting ready to go to church (for more worship, mind you), this incident pops back into my mind. I even had a desire to call the person and finish what I didn’t say. I wanted to give this individual a piece of my mind. I wanted to react in a way I though would bring me peace (As it appeared, I didn’t have any). I wanted the other person to feel sorry and ashamed for what they had said to me. I couldn’t believe I still desired to tell this person off!

When I realized what I was thinking (retaliation); what I had finished doing (devotion); and where I was about to go (to church), I asked God to help me get over this feeling of hurt. I ask God to forgive me. Help me to forgive this person also. Forgive me for wanting to use words of retaliation and thinking as such. As I prayed, I began experiencing the peace of God. That’s when the things I though I wanted to say began to diminish and really go away.

After genuine prayer, confession, and praise, what I felt like saying didn’t matter anymore. I was at peace. I thanked the Lord for reminding me not to yield to temptation, but to pray. I also prayed for the other person to be brought to repentance, and into God peace as well. When I prayed and kept thanking God for His help, this is the response He gave me to affirm:

“Though tempted, I will not yield; in your name Lord, I will keep still.”

Who knows when temptation is going to strike? It could be by day, or it could be by night. It could really end up a nasty fight! Who wants to be a prey to temptation’s bite!

It can enter by a thought, word, or deed. Temptation doesn’t care. It desires to take the lead. It can never lead up. It can only lead down, causing us to lose our smiles, replacing with a frown.

Let’s be thankful to God for making us aware, no matter what we do, temptation is always there. It’s there, trying to raise its ugly face, hoping to hinder us in our Christian race. It’s there, giving no slack; pulling and tugging on our minds, hoping we would react.

If temptation could sink us, it really would. Satan means it for evil; but “yielding not”, produces the good. So believers, let’s stay on our guard singing praises, and keep on thanking Jesus, our Lord!

When temptation shows up let’s be prayerful and say, “My God is with me, and I’m not going your way.”

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

In God, I will keep on thanking. By Hertistine Washington