Quit Daydreaming: How to Wake Up & Break Free (Part 2)Sample

Fighting Temptation In addition to Satan’s attacks, we have another foe that threatens to thwart our spiritual progress known as the flesh: the innate human tendency to give into fleeting pleasures at the expense of ourselves and others. Most times, these carnal cravings manifest themselves through temptations; an impulsive desire to do, or engage in something we know will produce more harm than good in the long run. Unfortunately when we continue to cave in, we will find ourselves developing an insatiable appetite for things that destroy us. This means when we make the decision to renew our minds through God’s Word, we will experience an internal struggle since parts of our physiological make-up will still crave the things we previously fed it. The truth is, all addictions, whether to substances or negative thinking patterns, literally hijack the brain by altering its chemistry and changing its communication patterns. This means even if we have a desire for God to transform us, because of previous passions, triggers of past behaviors can tempt us to return to bad habits. Still, while we’ve all experienced temptation and have fallen victim to its luring power, being tempted should not be a reason to lose hope in our God's ordained breakthrough. Encountering temptations is inevitable. The good news is the Lord is faithful and He will never allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear. Not only that, with every temptation we face, God provides a way of escape so we can endure the testing period and avoid giving in to our lustful desires. If you are battling with an addiction or an oppressed mindset, it is important to remember you will encounter many triggers and temptations that will try to lure you back to your old life. But this is nothing to beat yourself up over or get discouraged about. Always remember, God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Not only does He give us the grace to endure the testing season, He also rewards us after we have overcome it. Giving into temptation may temporarily gratify the passions of your flesh, but this relief is never lasting and pales in comparison to eternal life through Jesus Christ.