Temptation 

   “Filled with the holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil.” (Luke 4: 1).

   If Satan would tempt even Jesus to sin, we must expect the same.  The devil knows our weaknesses better than we know them ourselves and he will attack where we are most vulnerable.  We must look to the Lord for the strength to resist just as He did.

   In some ways we should be glad that we are being tempted.  Satan does not waste his time tempting those who already belong to him, but those who are the children of God.  By our temptations, we can be certain that we have not yet been completely drawn from the right path.

   A young monk once asked one of the early desert fathers how he could avoid temptations.  He replied, “Go aside and stand, open your cloak and catch the wind.”  When the young monk replied that such a thing was not possible, the wise father told him, “Neither can you stop temptations.  Your job is to say No!”  The same applies to each of us.  We will never be free of temptations in this life, but we must adamantly reply “No!” when sinful urges come upon us, as they surely will.

   St. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, gave us the answer to temptation.  “Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his might power.  Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.” (Eph 6: 10 – 11).

   We are at war, a war between good and evil.  It is up to us to use all the power of God available to us to fight the evil and stand for the good.  Our Father is there, He will give us what we need to win this battle if we ask Him.

 

Strengthen me Lord.  Help me resist the temptations of the evil one.  Let me seek Your will and draw on your strength to win this battle so that I might spend eternity with You.  Amen