Don't Tempt Me

Read James 1:12-18

  In this passage, James makes a clear distinction between tests of our faith and temptations.  This first is from God and is for our benefit.  The second is not from God and will lead to our destruction.  From 1 Peter 5:8-10, we know that we have a real adversary whose goal is to devour us like a lion does its prey.   I believe "Resist him, firm in your faith" is key when it comes to putting a plan to avoid being devoured into action.  And truth is, you better have a plan. 
"each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire."
  When I think about dealing with temptation, my mind always goes straight to diets.  I have always struggled with maintaining a weight that I am happy and comfortable with.  The problem (until recently) has not been exercise.  I love to work out and I am usually pretty active. 
  The problem has been the lack of consistent healthy eating habits.  That problem is only magnified by being a Youth Pastor.  It has been way to easy to ruin two days of eating healthy with a busy Wednesday full of fast food stops and ice cream after church.  After which, I find it way to easy to give up on eating healthy this week and convince myself to start over on Monday. 
  Of course, when I do manage to establish a healthy routine, it seems that every house I visit has just made a batch of double fudge brown, and of course they only made them for a special occasion, and of course they are just about to celebrate that special occasion, and of course they would like me to stay for that celebration, and of course they smell really good, and of course they try to convince me it is okay to cheat on my diet just this one time, and of course it would be rude of me not have one!!  But of course, none of that run on logic is really what I am battling.  My battle must first begin with the fact that I really want a double fudge brownie.  My mind set must be to resist them, stand firm in my diet for the greater benefits of successfully reaching the goals of my diet.
  The same is true in our spiritual life.  We must realize the danger of cheating on our faith just this one time, and the slippery slope that we begin to head down the moment we do that.  Our battle with temptation must first begin with the desires to sin that come from within. 
  Our adversary is very clever and opportunistic, but our God is all knowing and has predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son.    Our tempter desires to devour and destroy us, but our Savior desires to restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us. 
  Wage war with your desires, and draw near to God by realizing that He rewards those who seek him.