Temptation is the act of trying to persuade someone to do something unwise or immoral. It also means to entice someone to do wrong by promising pleasure or gain. If you are a good Bible student you will agree with me that this was exactly what happened between the serpent and Eve in the Garden of Eden in Genesis chapter 3 verses 1 to 6.
Everybody is tempted daily and most times they succumb to the temptation. So the question now is: How do we win the fight over temptations? Well, here are some tips
1. LISTEN TO YOUR CONSCIENCE: The noun conscience is defined as an inner sense that knows the difference between right and wrong. Whenever we are tempted, we have this fast heart beat which tells us to yield to the temptation and a still small voice which is your conscience, and it tells you not to fall for the temptation. At this point, the best decision is to listen to your conscience.
2. PICTURE THE CONSEQUENCE: This is vital because if you look beyond the present and picture the consequence you will not give in to the temptation. For example, if you are tempted to either steal your parents’ money or cheat in an examination or test and you do it, you will spend the rest of your life feeling guilty whenever you remember it. So to avoid a life filled with feelings of guilt you should choose not to do that sinful thing
3. CHANGE YOUR LOCATION: If you are alone in an isolated place with the opposite sex and both of you have a crush on each other, the possibility of being tempted to have sex is very high. So what is the way out? Pretty simple, change your environment and go to where people can see you. In addition, avoid spending time alone with the opposite sex in isolated places because the possibility of being pushed into sexual act is very high.
4. REMEMBER GOD IS WATCHING: One thing temptation does is that it makes you feel nobody is watching, as such nobody will know what you have done. But the truth is that God always sees our actions. If you know this you won’t be defeated by temptation. Psalm 90 verse 8 says, “Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.” [KJV]
In conclusion, I am very sure that from now on, whenever you are confronted with a tempting situation you know exactly what to do. The Bible says in I Corinthians chapter 10 verse 13 (New Living Translation) that “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure,” while the King James version puts it this way, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
In conclusion, I am very sure that from now on, whenever you are confronted with a tempting situation you know exactly what to do. The Bible says in I Corinthians chapter 10 verse 13 (New Living Translation) that “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure,” while the King James version puts it this way, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
Gift Major is a Legal Practitioner & Notary Public. He’s also a teens & youth life coach, Conference speaker, Anti-rape crusader and host of Y Generation, a teens and youth show on Love 97.7 FM, Port Harcourt on Saturdays by 7pm. He can be reached on 08098525532 or on Facebook with the name Gift Airwaves.
