By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

“Squeak squeak...” Can you hear the mouse in your imagination? You sit up, focus your ears to listen again and suddenly you are shocked ... your heart misses a beat and your neck hairs stand on end because the squeak sound of the mouse has turned into a deafening roar. The mouse has become a dragon, ready to devour you.

This is the way of sin in our lives. Initially we think we can handle looking at pornography, or gambling or drinking a large quantity of alcohol every day. Or we believe we are in control of that “forbidden friendship” with someone outside our marriage or our fiery temper or love of gossip. “Squeak squeak...” and before we know it, we are stuck in the in the clutches of the dragon, trying to force the life out of our bodies.

The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). He knows our weaknesses and will continue to tempt us if we do nothing about it. In Song 2:15, we read that sometimes the “harmless” foxes can cause the greatest damage in the vineyard if they are not removed in time.

What to do about a temptation?
1) Acknowledge your weaknesses: In James 4: 7, we read: “Submit yourselves then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” When speaking to God about the areas in our lives we are struggling with, we are taking the first step to overcoming temptation. Ask Him to strengthen you in your weakness in order to resist the temptation. In Hebrews 2:19 we read: “Because He (Jesus) himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

2) Pray for protection: In Matthew 6:13, Jesus teaches the disciples to pray and say that we should pray daily, among others: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” There is power in prayer.

3) Flee away from temptation: Joseph fled from Potiphar’s wife when she tried to seduce him (Genesis 39). You can and should do the same when you are tempted. For example, put down the phone and go outside when tempted to type a WhatsApp message with the wrong intentions to that person outside your marriage. Deliberately say something good of a person when you have a desire to share a gossip story. Or throw out the alcohol in your home if you know you might be tempted to drink it as the sun sets.

Is there a grace, if you have stumbled due to a temptation? In 1 John 1: 9 we read, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” If you truly repent and turn your back on sin, you will experience true forgiveness and grace from God.

Let us draw close to God midst a temptation and ask Him to strengthen us. Let’s follow Jesus’ example by relying on His Word and resisting the enemy. Not only will we be freed from the dragon’s claws; the enemy will flee from us. God bless.

Father God, thank you for grace when we truly repent our sins. Please strengthen me today to resist any temptation and flee from it. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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