Saying No to Temptation

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

I have a good friend who went on a weight loss program. He was jogging every day and watching what he ate. He had a curious habit of taking a big Snickers candy bar and putting it on his desk, right in front of himself. Then he would say, “No, Snickers, you're not getting me today!” I asked him if it works, and he said, “Sometimes!”

That is not how God wants you to deal with temptation. He does want you to say “No,” but he doesn't want you to put yourself in a place of temptation. Many of us expose ourselves to temptation, just to play mind games so that we can be victorious.

The reality is that we put ourselves in a place of temptation and our flesh tends to push us in that direction. It is like the old Flip Wilson character, Geraldine. When she went shopping, she would say she was looking at a purse and she ended up buying it. She didn't want to buy it, but her explanation was, “The devil just got behind me and pushed. The devil made me do it!”

With many of us, we respond to the push and the tug of the evil one, rather than just saying, “No” to our flesh, “No” to our desires, “No” to any shortcut, and “No” to Satan.

Jesus said “No” to Satan in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13). It is important that you understand the power of saying, “No.” You don't have to give in; you don't need to have sin in your life. You can overcome this temptation, but you must learn to say, “No!”