Don't Bob for that Apple

"The man has now become like one of us, knowing good AND evil.  He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." (Genesis 3:22)

Let's talk about something that everyone faces, well if you are a human and not a robot, at least!  Temptation!  Yes, Temptation is a conniving mistress, a greedy coquette, a presumptuous paramour.  The Bible has a wealth of knowledge regarding the blessings that come with avoiding temptation.  "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him" (James 1:12).  The good news is that God always provides a way of escaping temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).  You just need to make sure that you are spiritually in tune to those ways (1 Corinthians 2:10-16)!  How do you make sure you are spiritually accessible?  Learn the Word, fellowship with other believers, make sure you have an accountability partner, etc.

Today, I want to discuss practical thinking in conjunction with biblical knowledge in order to prevail over temptation.  First, it is imperative that you seek wisdom for it "will save you from the ways of wicked men" (Proverbs 2:12).  Second, cultivate your relationship with God DAILY.  Third, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:23).  Fourth, know your triggers!  Know what emotions you have commonly experienced when you made less than desirable choices in the past.  Remember that you possess all 9 fruits of the spirit, and one of those is self-control, so employ it!  Fifth, DO NOT EVER THINK YOU ARE ABOVE TEMPTATION.  Even Jesus was tempted (Hebrews 4:15)!  Having ammunition when the enemy comes at you will bring you closer to making a savvy step in the right direction.  Below is an acronym I have formulated in order to help you remember the practical part of today's post when combating temptation:

Apply

Principles of the Bible &

Prior knowledge to

Leave behind

Evildoing

"Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

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