Road construction is evil. No one can get where they are going on time. Invariably, orange barrels block the lane where no work is being done, and the guy holding the STOP/SLOW sign thinks of penguins in Antarctica. That’s why, if possible, most of us avoid these areas just like the plague. Even if it means taking an extended or more circuitous route, it is going to still be higher than getting stuck in a traffic jam in a construction zone.
Temptation in life is like constructing roads in cars. It is best to avoid it altogether than to wade through it at the chance of life, limb and mental health. So get your map or app ready and let’s look for tactics to avoid temptation.
1. Don’t get fined – control your thoughts
If you didn’t get a construction zone ticket, it’s God’s grace since it seems likely that every one of us desired to do something on the development site that might warrant a ticket.
James tells us that that is where sin begins. First there’s desire. We desire that pleasure, person, or experience until our desire overcomes us. Then, after we start planning how we will get what we would like, sin is born. And when sin is fully developed, it results in death.
The logical place to stop this progress is our thoughts at the start. Controlling our thoughts is a moment-by-moment battle. Our human tendency is to create unhealthy patterns in the way in which we expect. Places we run to for joy and luxury – often reassuring ourselves with lies and fidgeting with temptation.
To avoid this, these habits have to be plucked from our minds and replaced with godly thoughts. It might be done, however it’s difficult. It involves memorizing the Word of God in order that it is going to all the time be available as a substitute for incorrect thoughts. It includes an honest prayer life that invites God to correct, instruct, and discipline. This includes surrounding yourself with music, entertainment, and relationships that glorify God, not sex, violence, or pleasure.
“May the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” – Psalm 19:14
2. Find others who follow Jesus, not crowds
Image credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Sanja Radin
Overall, the general public appears to be content to sit down within the traffic jam created by construction projects. Overall, the general public seems comfortable to be excited and/or stoned juggling their better half and playing their money at craps tables. Sin has benefits, even small ones. And if the enjoyment of sin is what our friends, especially our close friends, continuously parade before us, we allow temptation to be a relentless a part of our lives.
But God assures us that sin has a steep downside, and if our friends remind us of the value of sin, they supply us with some protection against temptation. When we decide close friends who go together with Jesus and never with the group, we’re in a position to construct one another up and validate the clever decisions of others.
“He who walks with the clever will likely be clever.” – Proverbs 13:20AND
3. Use temptation blocks
Roadblocks are invasive. They are so frustrating, especially when there appears to be no reason for them. But it’s value it, because wet concrete looks almost similar to dry. Similarly, it may well be inconvenient to intentionally set roadblocks in our paths to avoid temptation. But when our goal is to glorify Christ, it’s very value it, because sin looks protected until it’s.
Different people need different obstacles to guard them from temptation, but:
Most of us can be clever to put in and use filters on our devices and avoid spending time alone with members of the alternative sex.
Many of us would profit from having a billing app on the identical devices or informing another person of our goals in a certain area and forcing them to achieve this.
Some of us should deliberately refrain from driving past an adult entertainment venue, casino or bar.
Others should plan to have another person review our monthly bank card statements and explain how we manage.
Setting our phones to only allow a certain variety of screen hours might help a major variety of us pursue what is really essential in life.
For those of us who date, not spending time alone in our cars or in others’ homes can keep us from running into wet concrete. And it is far easier to avoid wet concrete than to get out of it when the automobile passes the axles.
“The prudent man foresees evil and hides, but the straightforward go through and suffer the punishment.” – Proverbs 22:3
4. Practice running
Basically, there’s nothing more enviable than an emergency vehicle in a construction site. They get lights and sirens. They’re going fast. And all of the non-special cars stop and get out of the way in which.
When it involves temptation, we turn out to be rescue vehicles. So do not get hung up on what you are missing or what other cars might think. It’s time to activate those lights and sirens and run. Running takes practice and starts with small steps.
Reading a book with an exciting chapter, bad language, or godless morals? close it. Get rid of it. Watching a movie that suddenly turns right into a nude scene or a bloody mess? Close your eyes. leave. Everyone at work going out for a drink? “I can not exit for a drink with you.” Why don’t we go to a barbecue as an alternative? Your date puts his hand somewhere that makes you’re feeling too warm. Get up and go.
Your family desires to exit for a buffet – but you are likely to overeat. Offer to deal with the youngest children at home.
Running training is not fun until you win a prize.
“No temptation has befallen you, except that which is common to man; but God is faithful, who won’t allow you to be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation may also provide a way out, that you could give you the option to bear it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13
5. I even have a ticket – what now?
Getting a ticket in a construction zone is the worst because anyone can look into your automobile because it sneaks by. But once you’re stopped, all you may do is slouch in your seat and wait for the policeman at hand you a ticket that costs greater than your automobile.
But spiritually, after we sin, now we have far more to do than simply slouch and wait. And we should always do far more.
Firstwe confer with God and tell Him exactly what we have done. We agree with Him that that is incorrect, and that our actions dishonor our Savior and hurt others.
Secondwe accept God’s forgiveness. There isn’t any sin that Christ’s sacrifice will not be sufficient to cover, and there is no such thing as a sin that His grace is sufficient to redeem.
Thirdwe ask God to lift us up and show us how you can try again. Our Lord will not be surprised after we fail and He is with us.
Fourthwe return, make an apology and make amends with those now we have wronged.
Nobody said it might be easy. But we will make certain that now we have not been saved to proceed being slaves to sin. We have been delivered from this power to turn out to be servants of the Most High God who has promised us victory.
“But thank God that though you were slaves of sin, you were wholeheartedly obedient to that type of doctrine to which you were subjected. And free of sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” – Romans 6:17-18
Find out more about Alisha’s latest book, Confessions of a Christian Maid:
IN Confessions of a Christian MaidAlisha explores God’s plan specifically for Christian singleness through entertaining stories and scriptural truths. It deals with difficult questions that the Church often ignores, reminiscent of: Where do I slot in? Does the church even want me? Has God forgotten me? What if I never get married? Moreover, it confronts the Church, calling for alignment with its couple-centered culture and asking Christians to know that their single brothers and sisters are usually not only valued by God, but additionally integral to His kingdom.
Singles will feel seen by Alisha’s words; they will likely be encouraged to tackle their role within the church and encourage their pastoral staff to rediscover their culture about singleness. is a strong resource for individuals who wish to live and grow in a troubled church—and a way forward for the church itself.
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Image Credit: ©Kregel Publications/AlishaPlummer
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