Foundations Devotional: Week 3, Day 1
Day 1 – Defend Against Temptation
Temptation comes to all; the wise prepare for it.
James 1:12-16
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.
When we struggle with temptation, understanding how it works can be helpful. Every sin originates as a thought (James 1:14-15). If we hold on to the thought, it becomes a fantasy—the chance to imagine what pursuing that notion would be like, without actually doing so. Fantasies can easily become entangled with our emotions. This creates a desire, which brings us to the point where a choice must be made. And we must either consent to the sin or refuse. This process is quite dangerous, as the progression from thought to choice can be almost instantaneous.
Wise believers determine ahead of time to resist temptation. They build the defense before the offense happens. There are two cornerstones to a good defense: the recognition that God’s in control and the commitment to obey Him (1 Corinthians 10:13; James 4:7).
We can further fortify our defense when temptation actually comes. Satan has a way of spotlighting the pleasure of sin until it’s all we see. But with prayerful effort, we can retrain our focus to take in the bigger picture: Is this choice a violation of God’s Word? What are the consequences?
No one can resist temptation perfectly—we’ll all continue to struggle with sin. But the more we meditate on Scripture and communicate with God, the stronger our defense will be.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
I come before You today, acknowledging that temptation is a part of life. I thank You for Your Word, which teaches me how to resist the pull of sin. Lord, I know that every temptation begins with a thought, and I ask for Your wisdom and strength to recognize those thoughts before they take root in my heart.
Father, I know I will stumble at times, but I thank You for Your grace and forgiveness. Help me to meditate on Your Word daily and stay connected to You through prayer, so that my defenses are strong. Lead me not into temptation, Lord, but deliver me from evil.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.