chapter 2
Temptation is something that arises when you fully commit to following the Lord. Have you ever had thoughts that were not holy or pure? Maybe as a man, you've looked at a woman and thought, "Wow, she's attractive," or struggled with overcoming issues like pornography. With the Lord's help, you may be doing well for a while, but then suddenly, inappropriate images or thoughts enter your mind. These come from the Devil, who is known as the tempter and accuser.
Even Jesus was led into the wilderness for 40 days and nights, where Satan tempted Him with everything, even hunger. How did Jesus overcome temptation? He leaned on His Father’s power, decided not to give in, and used the Word of God to fight back. Similarly, we must rely on God’s power through the Holy Spirit and use His Word as our weapon. It's essential to be grounded in scripture and take an active stance against temptation.
As a Christ follower, I face spiritual warfare daily, with sexual temptation being one of the main struggles—whether it's images online or real-world encounters. I guard my heart, knowing that Christ has freed me. I'm celebrating two years of freedom, and in 2025, it will be three years. Being tempted isn't a sin; it only becomes sin when you give in. This applies to all areas—food, money, sex, and more.
As believers, we face a daily spiritual battle, choosing between disobeying God to follow the world or obeying God and being hated by the world. Yet, in the midst of everything, we can find joy and peace. You might wonder how one can have peace while dealing with anxiety. It's because peace doesn't depend on our circumstances but on trusting God.