Meditations of My Heart What is on Sandy's heart now?

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Have you ever felt that you are the only person being faced with temptation? You look at others and think that God doesn’t allow them to be tempted. The above scripture helps us to realize that every temptation we face is also faced by others. Too often, we think that we are the only person facing such temptation. We often feel guilty when just faced with the temptation even without succumbing to it.

We must remember that being tempted in itself is not a sin. It is how we choose to deal with the temptation that makes all the difference.  We must immediately turn from that temptation rather than entertaining the thought. Immediately redirect your focus away from the temptation. Entertaining the thoughts of the sin will eventually result in giving in to the sin which can lead you down a path of destruction.

When faced with temptation, it is important to be prepared in advance.  If you have a temptation with which you know that you struggle, develop a plan to deal with the temptation whenever it occurs. A part of the plan should include prayer and relying on God. Go over this plan in your mind before the temptation ever presents itself. Therefore, when the temptation does occur, you are prepared to act. As a believer, we know that God is with us each and every step of the way but we must recognize his presence and  rely on him so we can overcome the temptation.