When I read this verse, the thought that comes to my weak mind is, "If God won't allow me to be tempted beyond what I am able to bear, then why have I so often fallen to temptation?"
Well, when I read the rest of the passage it becomes clear to me that the reason I have fallen is that I have not looked to God and asked Him to show me the escape hatch that He has already prepared for me to use as a means of bearing up under the temptation that I am facing. I have either been too prideful, thinking that I was beyond tempting, so I rely on my own strength (and I fail), or I have been too willful, thinking that in this particular situation given all of my life's conditions, that God's rules must be able to be bent for me (and I fail).
What Paul is telling us that IF we look to God in the face of our temptations, He is always there waiting for us and ready to lead us right out of that place and we will not fail. We will come through victorious and those kind of victories are the ones that build our confidence in our faith and the faithfulness of the Gd we serve. Rather than regretting, we will be rejoicing.
Well, when I read the rest of the passage it becomes clear to me that the reason I have fallen is that I have not looked to God and asked Him to show me the escape hatch that He has already prepared for me to use as a means of bearing up under the temptation that I am facing. I have either been too prideful, thinking that I was beyond tempting, so I rely on my own strength (and I fail), or I have been too willful, thinking that in this particular situation given all of my life's conditions, that God's rules must be able to be bent for me (and I fail).
What Paul is telling us that IF we look to God in the face of our temptations, He is always there waiting for us and ready to lead us right out of that place and we will not fail. We will come through victorious and those kind of victories are the ones that build our confidence in our faith and the faithfulness of the Gd we serve. Rather than regretting, we will be rejoicing.
2 comments:
I have fallen to temptations many times. During those times I was not reaching out to God, asking for His guidance. I was leading my life alone without His loving arms around me. I am focusing on God's mighty abilities to keep the Holy Spirit in my mind and soul. God is amazing - how He restores me from my own selfishness. I don't want to have more regrets, I want to have more rejoicing in my life. I want to form new habits of looking to God during the temptations of life here on earth. It is clearer and clearer each day that I know God has my heart in His loving hands.
I looked to the Lord on Sunday, yesterday. I was having my family, which is sisters, nephews, great nephews, and stepson and step daughter, and my husband. I was so fearful of the dynamics of a family gathering. All the past incidents and so forth. I prayed to my Lord all week leading up to the Thanksgiving meal at my house. I knew it would require physical strength as well, since these days it is an effort to even walk. I tire so easily. I was tempted to think evil and selfish thoughts of some of those attending. My Savior brought me a beautiful day. Everyone was so pleasant and the food was so good (thanks
to Market Street and my sisters). Christ brought me wonderfully good thoughts
and an ease and peace when the day began. I had no worries and I was able to
have all the work done. I was tempted but Jesus remained at my side and
provided a wonderful family gathering. I praised Christ all night long and this
morning my heart is light and free because the Holy Spirit of God's love resides
in me. Praises to God, Christ Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. I love my
God.
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