How does God rescue us from temptation?

Temptation

Most of us hate it. Whether we are tempted by yummy cake, a second drink, or the handsome guy in the office next door, we are all tempted by something. And we don’t want to be. I want to eat healthy, yet cake. I want to stop at one coffee drink, but an iced coffee is my siren song. I want to stay faithful in my marriage, but that handsome man keeps talking to me at work.

What’s a girl to do?

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Scripture

If you know the Lord’s Prayer (the “Our Father”), you know the line that says, “lead us not into temptation”

That’s a great place to start. We can pray that God would keep us from being in tempting situations. I wish I could tell you all the tempting situations God has kept me from but I can’t. Because He, you know, kept me from them. But I know for a fact that He has done this for me.

I trust that He keeps His promises and if He says we should pray for Him to keep us from temptation, then I believe He will do that.

I am working on memorizing Scripture. Memorizing does not come naturally for me so this is a big deal. The last verse I memorized is this:

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

The way of escape from temptation

I studied this verse for two weeks. I read it and spoke it over and over. Then one day I was struck by the simple word, ‘the.’

He will make THE way of escape. Not SOME way of escape. Or ONE OF MANY ways of escape. He will make THE way of escape.

If there is one true escape route, I want to know what it is. That means I need to be praying and aware. I need to be focusing on God in my circumstances so I can find THE way of escape. I need to be looking for it. If there is just one escape from my temptation, I don’t want to miss it.

What does that way of escape look like?

Well, he may provide an alternative. For instance, when I want to go get another drink, maybe my dog will need a walk. So I choose to walk instead of taking another drink.

He may distract us. Perhaps my sister will call and distract me from wanting another drink. He may save us from being overcome by it. In these cases I view it like willpower – He gives us the strength to avoid the temptation.

The Greek translation for “the way of escape” means that the path out of the temptation is particular to each temptation. And it may only come in time, after the temptation has had its perfect work (see James 1:2-4).

How to find the escape hatch

So how do we find this way of escape that God has planned?

The first thing we need to do is listen for God to talk to us. We need to be paying attention for God to speak in our lives. He does this through Scripture, sermons, friends, books, and more! Be attentive.

The next thing we need to do is take our eyes off the temptation and put them on God. Instead of focusing on the tempting thing in our lives, focus on God. Read Scripture. Listen to worship music. LIsten to podcasts about God or sermons. Read a nonfiction book about faith issues. The important point is to focus on God instead of what’s tempting you.

Finally, be alert for an out. If the phone rings while you are contemplating another drink, answer it! That call could be your escape from the tempting situation. When we are alert we are actively looking for the escape plan that God has for us.

Conclusion

I hope you see that temptation WILL come your way. But God also promises that He will provide a way out. We just have to be focus on Him to see it. When we take our eyes off the temptation and put them on God we grow closer to Him, we see the means of escape, and we allow ourselves to grow in our faith.

With love,

🌸 Andrea

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