Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit of God for the purpose of being tempted by the devil. These temptations that Jesus faced were on purpose. These circumstances were not surprising to God or Jesus. When circumstances come into our lives which are, or seem, to be against us”¦God is not surprised. And this is something I need to remember, and perhaps you also, God doesn”™t tempt us, the devil does.

(NASB) Matthew 4:1 “THEN JESUS was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

When you are tempted, what do you do? So many times, I give into the temptation”¦it”™s easier and gratifies my wants and desires. How about you?

Resisting temptation, for some people, is to exert their will power. I don”™t have that kind of will power most of the time.

Resisting temptation is difficult, not impossible. Prayer to the living God, reading and using God”™s word to resist temptation and trusting God is an excellent step to take, to resist and turn from the temptation of the moment.

When tempted, pray and then immediately do something that is pleasing to God. Purposely getting our attention and concentration on something else, will help to resist temptation. James 4:7-8a are verses that have been helpful to me:

(NIV) James 4:7-8a “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you”¦”

Whenever I am tempted about the same thing over and over, I pray the above verse. Trusting God to take away the temptation to do “¦ whatever “¦ is how my faith in Him has, and is, growing.

Perhaps you have another verse(s) that you have found helpful”¦each of us need God”™s word to use as a sword to overcome temptations.

Trusting God,

using His Word,

and Resisting

will overcome temptations.