When do you and I give into temptation most easily? Isn”™t it when lack of sleep, poor diet, illness, drugs, or our own wants are first in our lives? Your point of temptation will be different from mine. Your point of temptation will depend on you and your circumstances at the time. Points of temptation change.

We can thwart temptation in the same way Jesus did”¦with God”™s word as our sword”¦turning from whatever is causing the temptation”¦and begin to do some positive changes that will give us the victory over the

Temptation “¦ starting now.

Jesus was out in the wilderness and He had fasted forty days and forty nights from food and He was hungry. Temptations come at the most vulnerable times in our lives. Temptations are in those moments when our will power is at the lowest point.

(NASB) Matthew 4:3 “And the tempter came and said to Him, “˜If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”™”

The devil knew Jesus was hungry and offered a very real solution to His situation”¦lots of stones lying around in the wilderness, use those and make some bread. Jesus had the power to do just that, He is the Creator!!!

Our temptations are like that too. We “˜cave in”™ because we want what we want when we want it”¦no waiting”¦instant gratification is the norm in our culture.

Perhaps we need to ask the Lord to show us our temptations because we may not even recognize them!

(NASB) Matthew 4:4 “But He answered and said, “˜It is written, “˜Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”™”

Jesus was quoting from Deuteronomy 8:3. He used God”™s words as a way to resist the temptation that the devil offered.

Jesus did not deny that people need food. Jesus did say that people need God”™s word too.

Jesus countered this temptation by not falling into the devil”™s trap to gratify His hunger instantly. Instant gratification is a trap, how often do you and I get caught in that trap?

We can follow the example of Jesus by using God”™s word and turn from the temptation. When we plan our day around God and His word, we will be able to resist temptations that come like arrows into our day.