The last few weeks have been spent thinking about temptation and thankfulness. We're all tempted by the things of this world, more money, bigger home, nicer car, sexual sin, gossip, keeping up appearances, even over-indulging (especially in this country). Have you ever wondered how we can feel so humble before God during worship and prayer, yet still fall prey to Satan's temptations? We have so much to be thankful for: shelter, food for our family, a little money in the bank, our health, a job, family, even air conditioning (remember, people lived in Phoenix before it was invented). So what more could we need?
Like a game of tennis, we stand on one side, often alone, trying to win under our own power. Satan stands on the other side, knowing the secret desires and fears we try to hide. He starts a conversation while he hits the tennis ball over to your side...
"wow, look at that______! ( expensive car/big house/good-looking co-worker/internet garbage)
"yeah, it's nice, I guess" (we easily hit the first tennis ball back)
"wouldn't it be nice to have that?" (he hits it a bit harder)
"well, I guess it could be fun to have, but I don't need it" (feeling pretty proud to have hit the ball back into his court?)
"but you deserve it, after all, you work hard, you're always doing things for everyone but yourself, and you have such a thankless job, no one appreciates you" (now the ball really picks up speed and you didn't even notice)
"yeah, I guess I do kind of deserve it, don't I?" (did you just have to run to the other side of the court for that?)
"of course you do! I mean, after all, so-and-so has one and you're better than him/her" (notice the speed! you aren't even paying attention to what's really happening in the game!)
"I know, after all, I never do/say the things that person does, I'm pretty good compared to them" (now you're scrambling all over the court just to stay in the game)
"you shouldn't feel guilty, everyone does it/has it" (ooh, he made that shot seem easy to build your confidence and keep you in the game)
"yeah, so-and-so is a good person and they have one/do that" (feeling pretty proud? bet you didn't even realize he made it easy to hit so you'd keep playing)
"so go get it - someone's got to treat you right, look out for number one, right?" (Here comes the one right at the line...WILL YOU CROSS IT?)
You're so invested in your own power and feelings now you forgot WHO you were playing tennis with!
You have two choices...
1) Give in to temptation - sure, it feels good for a little while, but then guilt sets in...
"I didn't really need that"
"I told myself I was going to do better at temptations like this"
"why did I do that?"
"now I feel guilty and worse than before I had/did it"
OR:
2) Call out to God. Tell him your frustration. Call to Him to pull you up from this losing battle. Ask Him to fight for you. Believe He wants to help you and free you from bondage to this cycle of behavior.
Prayer: "Lord, what am I thinking? I have so much already. In our human nature, we admire more and more but all we really NEED is you! Remove these thoughts that are tempting me. I know they aren't coming from you. I'd rather spend an eternity with you knowing I did all I could to please you, than to spend my life guilty over continued sin and failures. Nothing is too difficult for you, so I lay this in your Mighty Right Hand. Deliver me from what I was contemplating - send the right thoughts and feelings that I might be focused on you, not things, not greed, not ungrateful- ness. You gladly give me all I truly need. For all you're already given me, I take a moment to say thank you."
Remember that Satan is so tricky and sly that often we've given into temptation before we realize what we've done, but we can strive to do better. Every single day, every hour, every minute is a new opportunity to choose God's way over Satan's way. If we do this, we'll find ourselves back on the true path to righteousness.
Good luck on your journey,
and God Bless
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