Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri is a time we set aside to wander in the Presence of Jesus and ponder His truths. When you are ready, prepare your mind, body, and soul to have a transformational encounter with Jesus.
Watch the Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.
Now that we have cleared our minds of the clutter, we can wander on the journey of understanding enticements and temptations.
PREPARATION: In our last Wandering we examined Heart Songs. This week we will explore enticements and temptations. When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue with Jesus and state: “Jesus, I invite you to help me to leisurely wander into your Presence. Prepare my heart to receive and illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter you.”
PROMISE: 1 Corinthians 10:13 Amplified
No temptation (regardless of its source) has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience (nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance); but God is faithful (to His Word-He is compassionate and trustworthy) and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability (to resist), but along with the temptation He (has in the past and is now and) will (always) provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it (without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy).
Temptation and enticement are a common part of our flesh. BUT…God promises that He will always provide us with a way of escape. Is there a temptation in your life that God is providing you a way of escape that you are not taking?
PSALM: I Need Thee Every Hour written by Annie Sherwood Hawks.
I need Thee every hour,
Stay Thou near by;
Temptations lose their power,
When Thou art nigh.
Hawks transparently shares that she is being taunted by alluring enticements. However, she has experienced that staying near to Jesus helps her to resist temptations of the flesh, temptations of power, and temptations of devotion. Individually crafted temptations and enticements will come to us all but God will always provide us an escape that leads us to His will.
PARABLE: Be aware: Just as Satan tempted Jesus, he will approach us with temptations of the flesh (Matthew 4:1-4); temptations of power (Matthew 4:6-7); and temptations of devotion (Matthew 4:8-11). BUT God”s Word is the buckle of hope-giving truth we can tighten around our waist to resist temptations.
Hope-Giving Truths about Temptations
- No temptation (regardless of the source) has overtaken you that is not common to man. You are not the only one who has been tempted (1 Corinthians 10:11).
- God is Faithful. He will strengthen you and protect and guard you from the evil one (2 Thess 3:3).
- He will not let you be tempted beyond what you’re able. His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9).
- With the temptation He will also provide a way of escape. His Word will light the way (Psalm 119:105).
- You will be able to endure it. There is written proof that others survived (1 Corinthians 10:11).
Knowing God and the truths of His Word tightens our belts of faith, empowers us to resist temptations and live Godly lives, and binds us closer to Him where temptations lose their power.
PONDER and WANDER: Temptations of Satan are individualized crafted roadblocks (social media, shopping, eating, drinking, smoking, pornography, lust, sports, material things, isolation, medicine, ambition, status, work, religion, judgement, people pleasing, perfectionism, or performance, rage, envy, and/or gossip, to name a few) to God’s Presence. My temptations don’t look like yours and your temptations don’t look like mine. The commonality is that we all experience these lustful illusions of temporary satisfaction that can distract our minds, our bodies, and our souls from our need for God. BUT…God has promised to provide us His way of escape that directs us away from the enticements toward His Presence where temptations are powerless.
Have you taken the time to examine the temptations in your life and notice the way of escape God has provided? If you choose to disempower the traps Satan is using to lure you away from God, Take a moment to sit with Jesus and ponder the question: In what areas of my life am I most tempted? By the needs of the flesh, by a need for power, or by my devotion?
- Take time to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the area where Satan most tempts you.
- Next, consider what has yielding to this desire cost you?
- Allow the Holy Spirit to notice where God has provided an exit from this temptation.
- Acknowledge that you need God to resist the enticements.
- Then choose if you will take God’s way of escape.
PRAYER: Father, I need thee! I need you to lead me to the wondrous upward temptations of producing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I need you to help me resist the downward temptations of my accuser. Draw me near to you where temptations lose their power. In the strong name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to thank God for providing a way of escape from enticements and temptations! Let the work of your wandering fill you with the assurance that God is faithful to help you. Then take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.
Until next time, be Resonant.
The post Enticements and Temptations appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image attributions:
He will provide a way out: Pixabay with text
I need thee: Beloved.org with text
Lead me Holy Spirit: Pixabay with text added
Tighten your belt: Pixabay with text added
What an awesome reminder that God will never leave us! Even in the midsts of darkness he is an ever present help! God’ word IS a light unto our path! Sometimes we need to be reminded of what God’s word says, and also how it all fits together. Thanks for piecing together those passages for us☺️
Tre,
Thank you for your post. May the light of God continue to direct you on the bright, hopeful, and purposed plan he has for you. May His genius light within you continue to lead you to shine in the dark places.
Wow! This is really good and needed!! I love that God always provides a way of escape and that accountability is a big part of that! We may get weak in our flesh, but God chooses to still cover us with grace! I love that God is faithful even when we are not to Him. I love that even in those moments His love endures forever and that others testimony of survival will help to bring us through! Very well written!
Cortney,
Thank you for taking your time to post a comment. May God’s grace be your constant companion. May you continue to “notice” His enduring love and faithfulness.
Well My Dear Sister Sister it has been a journey. I love that we are sister’s. I also love that we are connected through Jesus Christ blood. Both of them makes me love you and Jesus Christ and our families and our Worship places even more and others that I don’t even know. This is a great work you have composed of threading God’s word through a needle. I have many times missed the mark having not held true to my Christians beliefs as I should. I realize I should give God more of me. But I learn in my passing that God never gives up on me. That you Sherri never give up on me. In this life we are tried daily with sins. All I can say is stay true to God. Keep praying. I notice the closer I get to God I am able to stand even when I fall down. When I am down there I pray. God forgives us. The World holds on to your mistakes and sins oftentimes rubbing them in your face. But we are a new man and woman with God. We have been transformed. Sherri keep serving God and letting God use you. Bless your ❤
Dearest Sister Sister,
Thank you for your transparent post. I am glad that the saving grace of Jesus Christ is an eraser of my sin. Thank God that the love and salvation I receive through Jesus Christ does not count my wrongs, is patient, and uses my “mess” as a message of what grace looks like. I am blessed to have a sister God uses to encourage me, never gives up on me, and strengthen me in God’s Word.
I’m thankful God’s GRACE is sufficient…Well said Dr. Woods!!
Troy,
Thank you for your post. Where would I be if it were not for His SUFFICIENT grace? I’m so glad I do not have to find out. May God continue to utilize you as a grace conduit.
God will always give us a way of escape! It’s just a matter of whether we want to seek it and choose it to follow. “Draw me near to you where temptations lose their power”. Very powerful prayer, this was on time for me.
Nate,
Thank you for your post. I’m thankful that God’s love is the kind that chases us and goes into the places of temptations to rescue us with His grace. May God bless you with His power and the safety of His presence.