We at times may also be tempted to satisfy a perfectly normal desire in a wrong way or at the wrong time. Like if we have sex before marriage or steal to get food, we are trying to satisfy God-given desires in wrong ways.
When God created us, he blessed us with those feelings of desires. I can't imagine living this life with out feeling any desires for anything. God gave us those desires so that we may use those to glorify God.
I believe we too often wrongfully indulge in those desires. We look for ways to fulfill those desires that aren't glorifying to God. Sure, those desires are temporarily fulfilling but the fulfillment doesn't last very long. That's why when we indulge in sin, it sometimes becomes hard to stop because we keep wanting to fulfill those desires in the easiest way possible.
Whenever I am tempted, I think of when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. I'm tempted every single day. I am obedient everyday and I sin everyday. There are times where I give in and times where I don't. This story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness is so encouraging to me.
There are a couple of things I want to point out from that story...
Jesus wasn't tempted inside the temple or at this baptism but in the desert where he was tired, alone, hungry and most vulnerable. I wasn't tempted on the basketball court or in the classroom. The devil often tempts us when we are most vulnerable-when we are under physical or emotional stress, or even faced with uncertainty.
For example, I have been in a vulnerable spot the past two weeks. I am in the process of studying for the Life and Health Insurance Exam. Nearly everything I have learned the past two weeks has been brand new to me. It has also been stressful for that very reason. I have had to spend hours alone studying for this exam. There are times where I know I have been tempted because Satan is trying to get me to fulfill any sort of desire that I might be missing out on. When I sit and study I have been tempted to take a break, or sit and scroll through social media for a long time...the thing that has gotten me through those periods of temptations has been the Word of God and putting myself in stations where I know I won't be as vulnerable. I know that I am vulnerable when I am alone, so when I have studied every day, I try to find a coffee shop where I know that there will be people around me.
In times where I felt like giving up, or needed some energy, the best way for me to fulfill those desires was having Jesus time. Immediately upon opening my bible I felt energized and rejuvenated. I was reading because I know that my fulfillment comes from the Lord, not because I needed to read my bible just to read my bible because that is what Christians "should do."
Another thing I want to point out to you is that Jesus was able to resist all of the devil's temptations because he not only knew scripture, but he also obeyed it. Ephesians 6:17 says that God's Word is a sword to use in spiritual combat. Knowing bible verses is an important step in helping us resist the devil's attacks, but we must also obey the bible.
When Satan had tempted Jesus he had memorized scripture, but he failed to obey it. Knowing and obeying the bible helps us follow God's desires rather than the devil's.
My prayer is that this post helps teach you that there is a way to fulfill those desires that we feel everyday and that way is satisfying those through Christ Jesus. I also pray that you are able to obey scripture rather than just memorize it and read it. You could know all the information in the world about something but until you live out what you learn you aren't making a true difference.
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