Temptations

Whoever has no rule over his own spiritIs like a city broken down, without walls.

Proverbs 25:28 (NKJV)

In ancient days the wall around a city was the first line of defense. Bandits and wild animals roamed the land; without a wall a city was vulnerable. Without self-control we are also vulnerable. Matthew Henry explained, “All that is good goes out, and forsakes [us]; all that is evil breaks in upon [us. We lie] exposed to all the temptations of Satan, and [we become] an easy prey to that enemy.”

Think of about it, ladies. We have temptations calling our name everywhere we go. Temptation says, “Don’t clean the house now. Watch that outrageous TV show instead.” Or “It’s okay—you can stop every morning to get a double mocha with whipped cream.” Temptation says, “Go ahead. You don’t have to control your anger. You can blow your top anytime you feel like it.” But without self-control, it all adds up, inch by inch. It piles up and tears us down. We become miserable, but we forget that it’s our own careless doing.

When we’re ready to change, God is ready to help. He empowers you to say no. The first step is to slam the door on temptation. “Make no provision for the flesh” (Romans 13:14, NKJV). How can we do that? Confession: I have absolutely no willpower to resist rocky road ice cream. None. Last week my dear husband brought some home. After the first bowl, I wanted to sit on the couch and eat the entire half-gallon. So I took the carton outside and shoved it deep in the trash. Kind of radical? Yes. Effective? Absolutely!

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Have you ever noticed that brand-new Christians sometimes become hyperlegalistic overnight? I did. Why is that? I believe it’s partly a knee-jerk reaction; they are so glad to be free from their old lives, they want to leave them as far behind as possible. But I also believe the Holy Spirit is putting spiritual training wheels on them. They’re like toddlers learning to walk. It’s an exciting and beautiful thing to watch. Hopefully, God’s Word, spiritual maturity, and self-control gradually replace mere rules. Will you ask God to put a new Christian in your life that you can invest in, encourage, and disciple as she learns to walk?

One Year Bible Reading

Jeremiah 37:1–38:28; 1 Timothy 6:1-21; Psalm 89:38-52; Proverbs 25:28