Temptation. It is everywhere you go. You do not have to leave your house to be tempted. The cookies in the cookie jar or in your pantry may be calling you right now saying “Eat me! Eat meee!” Despite your craving for sugar you do have other options to satisfy the craving. You could grab a piece of fruit, ignore the craving, or give in and work the cookie off later. Whatever the case may be you have several options, but eating the cookies is always easy, right? Resisting temptation is the hard part, but why resist when I can have what I want when I want it right now? However, you forgot your wedding is in four weeks. You bought your wedding dress two sizes smaller and you have only lost five pounds! At the moment of craving all you can think about is the cookies, and losing weight seems to be impossible, so you give in to the temptation. Most of us want instant results, but it does not always happen like that. Often, we settle for the right now, instead of waiting for the ultimate goal. We get weary and tired of waiting, so we eventually give into the thing that seems to be the next best to our goal. You eat the cookies, and now your craving is satisfied, but guess what comes now? The guilt! Now, you feel bad about eating the cookies and have to face the reality that you may not be able to fit into your wedding gown. This certain temptation may not apply to you, but whatever temptation you are dealing with fill in the blanks. The familiar temptation I want to talk about it sexual temptation.
We live in a sex crazed society. It is displayed everywhere on a daily basis, and the boundaries that once were set up are crumbling. Sex in itself is not bad because God created it, but only in a covenant relationship between a man and woman. Recently, I have had to stand face to face with some serious temptations. It has been a rippling affect. They have been so close, but one of them is really testing my faith. Most of them I have been able to ward off and move on easily. As clear as day, I can see that Satan has been studying me and knows what I like. He sends someone to me unqualified in a form of godliness with the charm, subtly of a snake, and humor that makes me smile. I do like a man with a sense of humor, and this one has already done a work on me. In addition, he has been flirting with me, complimenting me, and working his charm. I played it off, but unfortunately, his game has affected me to the point that I have thought of giving into temptation.
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matt. 26:41).”
I have read this scripture several times, but am seeing it in a different light.
The key to not giving into your flesh is by watching, praying, and walking in the Spirit. If we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Gal 5:16) Jesus tells us “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). The word of God is our guide. It is our lamp to keep us from stumbling in darkness. God has brought us out of darkness. We need that word to stay alive. “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting (Gal 6:8).
Think of the example I used in the beginning. You can temporarily satisfy your sweet tooth, but think of the corruption to follow. You may not be able to fit into your wedding gown, the guilt behind eating all the cookies in the cookie jar, toothache, cavities, stomach ache, and the list could go on. However, imagine if you abstain? Think of the amazing benefits you can reap. The same goes for in our spiritual lives.
You may see that fine looking man or woman. They keep coming around and filling your ears with sweet subtle words of destruction to deter you from God’s plan for you life, but you have the Holy Ghost on the inside of you. He is greater than our enemy!
If you have to pray a gazillion times, then do whatever you have to do. Sometimes it seems like the more we pray the stronger the desire grows, and it seems like the prayer bounced, but God heard you before you spoke, or thought to speak. Be persistent and command every mountain to be removed in the name of Jesus, without doubting in your heart. God will answer. He has answered, so we thank him for giving us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This is for my single sisters, but brothers you are included too. The word says that the price of a virtuous woman is far above rubies. Despite of where you are currently. I challenge you to speak over your life that you are a virtuous woman fearfully and wonderfully made by God. See yourself as that woman. It is not impossible. Honestly, some days I do not feel like I am a virtuous woman because I have ragged edges and am still rough even with the Holy Ghost on the inside of me, but our Father is the author and finisher of our faith and he will perfect the work he has begun in us. I titled this post Don’t trade your ruby for a rock because I know rubies to be very rare and beautiful compared to a rock. Although some rocks are beautiful they are not rare, or as beautiful as a ruby. Despite the rarity and beauty of the ruby, our Father says we, his daughters, are of greater price than the rare red jewel. As previously stated, some days I do not feel like a virtuous woman. My mind swims with all of my inadequacies and flaws that I forget who it is that makes me valuable, Jesus. Therefore, if you trade your ruby for a rock you are selling yourself short in more than one way. First, you are not believing God’s word that you are far above rubies, then you give it up for a rock that is definitely below the standard God set for you. Let us not be like Esau who sold out his birthright for a bowl of hot soup. You can make it. We will make it with the help of the Lord.
How do I not trade my ruby for a rock?
- Believe God is able to keep you from falling. (He’s able to sustain you).
- Submit to God
- Pray(Come to Him with all the ugly stuff. He’s knows what you need before you express it)
- Fill your heart with the word of God and spiritual songs that glorify Him
- Guard your heart continuously
Further Reading
- Hebrews 11:25
- Hebrews 12
- James 4:7
- Proverbs 4:23
- Galations 6:9
Gr8nessnme 