so there is a predictable pattern
of temptation, the process. three
words.
it starts with attention. that’s where it grabs your mind. you notice something. it’s temptation.
arousal. your emotions kick in. “that looks interesting… that could be exciting! … that’s what i need…”
and then action.
but here’s the secret. you catch it at the beginning. catch it at the attention stage, that’s where you divert your attention.
you don’t fight temptation. you divert your attention to something else. you think about something different. change your thoughts.
the bible says this in 2 corinthians 10.5 (ncv), we capture every thought and make it give up and obey CHRIST. that takes practice but it is possible.
you cannot control all your circumstances, you just can’t. you certainly cannot control the people in your life. you can’t even control your own emotions sometimes have you noticed that? but there is one thing you can control. you can control what you choose to think about it.
some of you as i’m talking about this you might be thinking, wait a minute. doesn’t the bible say, “resist temptation.” no, it does not. there’s nowhere in the bible where it says to resist temptation. it does say to resist satan, the evil one who is throwing temptation our way. but JESUS’ example is you don’t resist the temptation. you change your thoughts to something else.
just a thought from the front porch…
it starts with attention. that’s where it grabs your mind. you notice something. it’s temptation.
arousal. your emotions kick in. “that looks interesting… that could be exciting! … that’s what i need…”
and then action.
but here’s the secret. you catch it at the beginning. catch it at the attention stage, that’s where you divert your attention.
you don’t fight temptation. you divert your attention to something else. you think about something different. change your thoughts.
the bible says this in 2 corinthians 10.5 (ncv), we capture every thought and make it give up and obey CHRIST. that takes practice but it is possible.
you cannot control all your circumstances, you just can’t. you certainly cannot control the people in your life. you can’t even control your own emotions sometimes have you noticed that? but there is one thing you can control. you can control what you choose to think about it.
some of you as i’m talking about this you might be thinking, wait a minute. doesn’t the bible say, “resist temptation.” no, it does not. there’s nowhere in the bible where it says to resist temptation. it does say to resist satan, the evil one who is throwing temptation our way. but JESUS’ example is you don’t resist the temptation. you change your thoughts to something else.
just a thought from the front porch…
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