|
| temptation |
|
| |
I've been popping aound like popcorn trying to keep up with the two young'uns, and miles of blog-screen-writing have scrolled by in my mind, unwritten, because I can't get to the computer, much less concentrate enough to write..... with the soon-to-be-3-year-old playing 52-pickup with her crayolas because she didn't want to take a nap and the 3 month old discovering that the louder she screams the faster mama puts nourishment in her mouth. Whew!
I've been thinking a lot lately about temptation - avoiding it, that is. I have been reading this book, and well, I was convicted. Not criminally (not lately :)) , but I was challenged to take action.
This book asks you to take an inventory of temptation "triggers" and then suggests that you come up with ways to avoid those triggers all together. I'm being very broad here in the definition of temptation, because the book I'm reading specifically addresses lust - in the physical sense. For me, though, there are other areas of sin, like my thought life. I guess it could be coveteousness - not out and out, "I wish I had a _____ like so-and-so" or something along that line, but more not being satisified with what God has given me - in anything, such as relationships, children, material things, body image....
Then the book challenges the reader to take specific actions to flee from temptation..... Thought life is an area that is easy to hide, but can be the most damaging. I've started to run through memorized scripture when I recognize thoughts starting to drift into areas that aren't pleasing to God. Then, by staying in the Word I am encouraged to stay further out of the World (to separate myself), and thus those thoughts aren't so prevalent. 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
One other thing on temptation - before the girls wake from their naps....
I was hesitant to join MyChurch because of what I felt could be the potential for "abuse" in the sense of on-line relationships, etc. I had joined one other online service, but dropped out quickly when I saw invitations to "alternative lifestyle" pages. As a Christian, I don't want to identify with that. 2:16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Further, as a married gal, I don't want to be tempted to look up folks from my past life (ok, ex-boyfriends). Since I couldn't trust my fleshly nature to not give in, I deactivated my account. Others may not have a problem with these other services, and if they are not convicted, then great for them. Myself, I was challenged that logging onto one of these sites might be a "trigger" for me to look at things that would pollute my thought life in some way or another, or would not be showing respect for my husband or submission to Christ.
Well, this is not what I intended to write about at all, but just what I've been mulling over for the past couple days. I was supposed to write about how Fall had come to the Alleghany Highlands and I was just so glad that the weather is so much cooler at night and how crisp the days look and how I looked up local apple orchards on the Internet. Guess the Holy Spirit had other things in mind for me to share!!
|
|
| To add a comment to "temptation" |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| September 05, 2007 |
 |
|
|
| Excellent blog, Heidi!! |
|
|
| September 06, 2007 |
|
|
|
God gave you some great stuff to address in this one! Temptation is so tough and we all need reminding to stay God's course! Thanks for the reminder! |
|
|
| September 06, 2007 |
|
|
|
| Amazing blog! Thank You for this pertinent reminder and for your candidness and openess. We all need to be able to be honest about our struggles, not to sensationalize it, but so that we can truly bear one another's burdens as the Bible tells us to do. Thanks for this. |
|
|
| September 06, 2007 |
|
|
|
Ya know, "the morning after" I posted this, I woke up in a cold sweat thinking, "Crikey. They all are all thinking I'm some kind uh mental WACKO who is obsessed with stalking her poor ex-boyfriends!" Well, just to set the record straight, I'm not!! Usually!! Katrina, its like you said, I needed to be reminded of some stuff and that's what it was. And so I shared it with you all. And now I can go back to sleep. |
|
|
Follow this blog
