Each day I start out toward a day of work and prayer, full of great intentions, and then discover that tempations lie in wait around every corner.
I have weaknesses and I fall into sin. There are temptation trip wires all around me. Maybe something provokes me to anger or frustration and I think evil thoughts or say evil things. Or I see something I want and decide to go for it, even though I had decided not to do that anymore. I excuse myself and promise to do better tomorrow.
That is where this picture of a cake comes in...this lovely, innocent cake (which is inscribed "A Gift of Love from Heaven Above") represents one of my temptations.
Years ago I made a decision that I would never pour myself a glass of wine when I am alone, nor would I ever drink to excess with others. I don't even think about doing these things, but eating sweets is a temptation to sin that I have struggled with. (It is only by God's grace that I haven't gotten to be 100 lbs. overweight by now since I have spent so much time alone in the kitchen over the years! )
Yesterday I was looking at a brownie on the kitchen counter while I was talking on the phone with a friend who struggles with overeating. I had planned to have that fat, chocolately brownie later with my afternoon tea. My friend, who is fighting and winning her battle with overweight, was asking for prayer in the face of ongoing temptations in her own kitchen.
Wow, I thought, I am packing around in my own body a lot of evidence that I have been giving in to food temptations for a long time. I thought about my past decisions about avoiding drinking....and then I decided that I had better apply that same discipline to goodies in my kitchen. I decided that I will not eat sweets when I am alone.
The earth did not shake when I made that decision, but a door to temptation closed for the day. It is so much easier to defeat temptation if the conversation is over before it begins. Will I have just one brownie today? Nope, no brownies while I am alone.
I have weaknesses and I fall into sin. There are temptation trip wires all around me. Maybe something provokes me to anger or frustration and I think evil thoughts or say evil things. Or I see something I want and decide to go for it, even though I had decided not to do that anymore. I excuse myself and promise to do better tomorrow.
That is where this picture of a cake comes in...this lovely, innocent cake (which is inscribed "A Gift of Love from Heaven Above") represents one of my temptations.
Years ago I made a decision that I would never pour myself a glass of wine when I am alone, nor would I ever drink to excess with others. I don't even think about doing these things, but eating sweets is a temptation to sin that I have struggled with. (It is only by God's grace that I haven't gotten to be 100 lbs. overweight by now since I have spent so much time alone in the kitchen over the years! )Yesterday I was looking at a brownie on the kitchen counter while I was talking on the phone with a friend who struggles with overeating. I had planned to have that fat, chocolately brownie later with my afternoon tea. My friend, who is fighting and winning her battle with overweight, was asking for prayer in the face of ongoing temptations in her own kitchen.
Wow, I thought, I am packing around in my own body a lot of evidence that I have been giving in to food temptations for a long time. I thought about my past decisions about avoiding drinking....and then I decided that I had better apply that same discipline to goodies in my kitchen. I decided that I will not eat sweets when I am alone.
The earth did not shake when I made that decision, but a door to temptation closed for the day. It is so much easier to defeat temptation if the conversation is over before it begins. Will I have just one brownie today? Nope, no brownies while I am alone.
Maybe I will share one with a friend or my husband later. Of course, my friend or husband may decline the brownie and then I will be reminded that I don't need it either. The fact that I am facing temptation in the company of others can help me stop before I give in.
I am going to try using this response to other temptations that come my way. I don't think that I am supposed to be in running battles all day long with temptations. God has given me power to deal with them and move on:
I am going to try using this response to other temptations that come my way. I don't think that I am supposed to be in running battles all day long with temptations. God has given me power to deal with them and move on:
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"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,
he will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
I Corinthians 10:13
Jesus also encouraged us to pray
"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
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Maybe the best way to escape from temptation is to pray for strength, then turn and walk away from it. No temptation is stronger than the power and deliverance of God that is ours through prayer.
Pray ---turn---pray---walk away---
I will call a friend to pray with me if I need extra strength.
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2 comments:
You are so very sweet and honest. While I do read all your blogs, this one was easy to respond to because I can just imagine you and the brownie staring each other down. I love you mom.
p.s. it reminds me of the "brownie" poem you used to recite to us.
In the corner of the kitchen
Sits a big fat brownie
It's sweet and soft and chewy
And I think it looks good.
I looked right at that brownie
And it looked so yummy
That I had to tell myself
"You're silly because
IT'S NOT REALLY FOOD."
Brownies are just sugar
Brownies make you fat
Put away that Brownie
Or go feed it to the cat...
(well, in my case,"dog", but chocolate isn't good for dogs...)
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