Little Debbie looked at her mom with sadness in her eyes. “Please, Mom, may I have one more cookie?”

“Sweetheart,” replied her mom, “you’ve already had three.”

“I know, Mom,” she whined, “but they are so good. Just one more? Please?”

“All right,” agreed her mom, “one more and that’s all!”

“Thanks, Mom!” exclaimed Little Debbie. “You sure don’t have much willpower. You gave in without even thinking.”

Giving in to temptation is easy if we do not call on the Lord when we face the slippery slope of life. The easy way out, however, is rarely the best way out. When we give in without counting the cost we are usually giving up something of value.

Paul reminds us that we all face the same type of temptations. In fact, he says, that “they are no different from what others experience.” Why is it, then, that some Christians have better “survival rates” than others?

It’s because of our focus. If we depend on ourselves for the strength to overcome the “evil one” we will surely lose the battle. But if we look to and call upon the Lord, the battle becomes His and victory is assured.

Prayer: Lord, before we are tempted and tried may we fill our minds with Your Word, open our hearts to Your Spirit and depend completely on You for our survival. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

A customer was watching young James help his father move boxes of shoes from one location to another. Seeing the pile grow higher and higher in the boy’s arms, he politely asked, “Son, I don’t see how you can carry any more. Isn’t that too much for you?”

Cheerfully he responded, “Sir, my father knows how much I can carry.”

Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, wanted to give them a burst of encouragement as they faced the temptations in a sinful culture. So, he said, “God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it.” In other words, “He knows how much you can carry.”

No one is immune from the temptations of life. Even if we feel that we are being singled out by God for a special examination, we must realize that others have faced similar temptations and have successfully resisted them. We have God’s Word that He will always give us the strength to face the temptations and avoid sinning.

The issue is not about being able to face and flee temptation; the issue is whether or not we want to.

Prayer: Help us, Lord, to realize that Your Son faced every temptation that we will face, yet remained sinless. May we, as He did, call on You for help. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

It was a very hot summer day. All the boys in the neighborhood decided to go swimming but there was no adult to go with them. Recognizing the danger that might occur, Johnny’s mother forbade him to go with them. Later that day, he came home with wet hair.

“What happened?” asked his mother.

“I fell in the pond,” came his reply.

“Well, why aren’t your clothes wet?” she asked.

“I had a feeling I was going to fall in,” he explained, “so I took them off.”

The world has been and is full of temptations and pressures. So, Paul gave us a warning and an escape route. First, he said that we would all be tempted, and second, that God would always provide a way to be victorious. But we must do our part if we do not want to fall and fail. We must first prepare ourselves to recognize and avoid people, places and things that would lead us to sin. Then, if we are tempted, look to Him for strength to recognize and resist the temptation before we are overcome by sin.

Prayer: Grant us, Father, the desire to trust You for strength and power to turn from sin in our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Thomas Edison did not like to attend formal dinners. While attending one that was particularly boring to him, he decided to slip away.

As he approached the door, his host noticed him and exclaimed, “It’s a delight to see you Mr. Edison. What are you working on now?”

“My exit!” came the quick reply.

There are times when we run from something and are considered cowardly. However, wise is the person who realizes the importance of physically removing him or herself from temptation.

The temptation to sin is Satan’s main activity in our lives. He takes great pleasure in challenging our selfishness and fleshly appetites. We are reminded in Hebrews that “Because He (Jesus) Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Our faith and commitment to God will be tested frequently and fiercely. When we are faced with the terror of temptation, we need to turn to God in prayer immediately and not let the temptation intensify. We must ask God to take the temptation from us before it becomes too strong and the struggle too intense. God will always give us the strength to resist because His Word assures us “that no temptation comes our way…without a way out,” if we look to Him for an exit.

Prayer: Help us, Heavenly Father, to be aware of and alert of the temptations that Satan brings into our lives. May we, through Your strength and power, overcome them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

A small third grader was fighting the school bully. Calling on strength that was far beyond his size, he was winning the battle. Suddenly, he began to call for help.

“Why?” shouted a friend.

“I can feel him getting up and I don’t want to lose the battle,” he said.

So it is with our fight against temptation and sin. We constantly need to call for God’s help if we are to overcome evil and the evil one.

We must never lose sight of the fact that the temptation to sin is Satan’s main activity in our lives. In Genesis we read, “The tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious.” Eve was tempted by something that was attractive – but against God’s teachings. Satan appeals to what we find attractive, but destructive.

In the fight against sin, we constantly need God’s help. Memorizing Scripture and quoting it when we are tempted is a sure way to overcome Satan. We can expect to be tempted, but we do not need to expect to sin. The God who saves us is the same God who can deliver us. The choice is ours.

Prayer: Father, we know that we will be tempted. But Your Word reminds us that no temptation is more than we can stand. Help us to be victorious in recognizing and resisting the temptations of Satan: in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scripture for Today: 1 Corinthians 10:13

A small third grader was fighting the school bully. Calling on strength that was far beyond his size, he was winning the battle. Suddenly, he began to call for help.

“Why?” shouted a friend.

“I can feel him getting up and I don’t want to lose the battle,” he said.

So it is with our fight against temptation and sin. We constantly need to call for God’s help if we are to overcome evil and the evil one.

We must never lose sight of the fact that the temptation to sin is Satan’s main activity in our lives. In Genesis we read, “The tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious.” Eve was tempted by something that was attractive – but against God’s teachings. Satan appeals to what we find attractive, but destructive.

In the fight against sin, we constantly need God’s help. Memorizing Scripture and quoting it when we are tempted is a sure way to overcome Satan. We can expect to be tempted, but we do not need to expect to sin. The God who saves us is the same God who can deliver us. The choice is ours.

Prayer: Father, we know that we will be tempted. But Your Word reminds us that no temptation is more than we can stand. Help us to be victorious in recognizing and resisting the temptations of Satan: in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scripture for Today: 1 Corinthians 10:13