I wish the devil was not real, but he is, and Peter tells us that he is constantly active.
1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
This is why temptation is something we all must deal with from time to time. Satan uses it to cause us to stumble and hopes that we will never recover once we do. Our job is not to give in to the temptation that he hurls before us. Thankfully, we have God on our side.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
The key to overcoming temptation is taking advantage of the way of escape that God gives us. Our way of escape comes in different forms. For example, prayer is a blessing that God has given us, and it is a great tool to use against the devil’s temptations.
Matthew 26:40–41 (ESV)
40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Since the flesh is so weak, we all need help overcoming temptation. If we try to fight against the devil by ourselves, we are destined to fail and become spiritual casualties in this ongoing warfare in which we are all engaged. There is no need to do that when God has given us what we need to defeat Satan. We already overcame his captivity when we obeyed the gospel (Romans 6:7), but now we must stay free by not giving in to his temptation. Prayer gives us the power to do just that. We need to take advantage of it.
Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Another help that God has given us to fight off temptation when it comes our way is the Word of God. God’s Word is powerful enough to help us overcome temptation.
Hebrews 4:11–12 (ESV)
11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
The Word of God helps us the most when we allow it to dwell in our hearts. Paul encourages us to let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly (Colossians 3:16). When we do that consistently, we will avoid dwelling in sin. David learned this through experience.
Psalm 119:11 (ESV)
11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
John reinforces this truth in his first epistle.
1 John 3:9 (ESV)
9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
While we are overcomers in Christ right now, we can continue to be so, overcoming every temptation by studying and praying regularly. Be thankful that God has given us these ways of escape.
As you wind down for the night, think about these things.