This morning I was reading and listening to the Daily Bread reading. It was discussing deceptions and temptations. What really grabbed my attention at the start of the reading was the mentioning of a truck full of chocolate stolen in Germany. 

Be it known to anyone who does not know me … I love sweets, especially chocolates. My wife always teases me about my stash of sweets. Of course, I always downplay the seriousness of just how much I may have stashed, and how much I may be eating. Simply put, sweets are my greatest downfall. 

2 Peter 2:9 (NKJV) says, “Then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.”

Now I know eating all the sweets I crave is not going to make me unjust and to be punished. But the wording does make me stop and think of any other areas in my life where I may be following the temptations laid before me to snare my walk to and with our Lord God. The biggest one I can think of may even be your temptation as well. It is the temptations brought to us through our cell phones. How many apps are distractions in our lives?

For me, it is the one or two games which will grab my time and attention. And by doing so, keep me from completing other tasks, and even interfere with my God Time. 

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) says, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

This means that the temptations I have are the same temptations as those of Bob, Frank, Joe, or anyone else around me. Everyone has the same lures, the same opportunities to do what is considered ungodly, and the same snares in life. The differences between each of our situations is quite simply our choices. Where I love my sweets, someone else may not like sweets at all. As hard to believe as it may be, it is very possible and likely. 

But as for Him “not allowing me to be tempted beyond what I am able?” Yes, the words are actually true. Although the Lord is not standing there measuring out just how much we are being tempted, and then giving permission for only that amount so as to be sure the lures will always fail, He is beside us waiting. You see, it is not up to Him to step in and stop us from falling. The key point to remember is that it is up to us. 

Think about that.

It is up to us.

The power to stop the temptation and lures and deceptions of the devil is within our own words. Our words contain the power we need. Remember in Genesis that God spoke into existence all that He created. 

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) reads, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even unto the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

He wants us to talk to Him. When we are being tempted beyond what we believe we can handle on our own, we are to simply ask Him for His help, and for His strength. For when we are weak, He is strong. 

That really convicts me on a lot of my failures where all I needed to do was to listen to His warnings He tried sending to me. And then to simply talk with Him about my weaknesses.

He knows we are not perfect. He only wants us to want Him, to trust Him, and to follow Him with unconditional love. 

Now, I think I will have some sweets while I pray to Him.

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