“False assumptions make any temptation seem worth entertaining for the moment.”

A thought by Andy Stanley, (2009-01-21) from his book, Louder Than Words: The Power of Uncompromised Living (Kindle Locations 1369-1370). The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

What tempts you? What is it you want to do and you have great trouble in not giving in to doing it? Does something come to your mind?

Andy says, “Analyze your temptations. What exactly is the appeal? What is the promise of sin? What sort of mental gymnastics do you go through to justify it? Think through the conversations you have with yourself as you talk yourself into something you know is wrong.”

This is so important. Figure out what the lie is that is drawing you to the temptation.

Back when Jesus was first starting His ministry Matthew tells us in chapter 4 verses 1-3 (CEB), “Then the Spirit led Jesus up into the wilderness so that the devil might tempt him. After Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights, he was starving. The tempter came to him and said, “Since you are God’s Son, command these stones to become bread.”

Now the big lie here was that to satisfy His hunger was more important than devotion to the Father. And He caught the lie that so many of us have not seen in our temptation to satisfy our hunger and He responded appropriately by saying in verse 4, “It’s written, People won’t live only by bread, but by every word spoken by God.” He was able to counteract the lie with the truth.

First He knew the lie and then He knew the truth. And that is the key for us. As Andy says, “Analyze your temptations.” You know what they are. Figure out the lie and then go to God’s Word and find the truth that counteracts it and memorize it so you will be ready for the next time you are tempted in that particular area.

That is the way you renew your mind.

Andy says, “Satan was tempting Jesus to trade unbroken fellowship with the Father for physical nourishment, and Jesus recognized what was at stake. The issue was not rocks and hunger. The issue was loyalty. That’s our example. Truth for lies.”

So have you filled your mind with enough “It’s written” statements to counteract the lies you face every day?

Comments

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