P. Boye Motivations

At that moment, your body, so eager to do something your soul disagrees with… a war springs up!…

Hello! Welcome back !😁
The past responses to the blog posts this month have been amazing, I must say. I am grateful for your time spent and the lessons learned. God bless you, always❤.

Today, I feel a pressing need to speak on temptations.
Guys, I am a work in progress in the vineyard of God and funny enough, as I write this, I have just faced a temptation😳. Does that make me a sinner?🙀

Hmm well, from very good studies, I’ve come to find that; if one is presently facing some sort of temptation, be it strong urges to do something or not so strong,  you are not a sinner or a bad person. Yes, I repeat, you are not a sinner if you face temptations.
Jesus was tempted as well🌚, and we all know/ should know, Jesus never sinned. So🙅‍♀️, don’t let the devil make you feel your case is over, for being tempted.

The real focus, however, should be if you succumb to the temptation or overcome it 🙊.
Hmmm…….

For a second though😢, can we get a break off temptations?

According to Wikipedia, temptation can be defined as a desire to engage in short-term urges for enjoyment, that threatens long-term goals.
It is the intentional enticement of a person, by some bait —usually pride, always self-gratifying—to disobey God’s revealed Word ( Dr. Michael A. Milton, 2019).

Temptations can come in so many forms such as: 

1. Lust of eyes (materialism)
2. Lust of body (hedonism)
3. Pride of life (egoism).

Examples of temptations are; having to deal with overcoming desires and the satisfaction that comes with drinking alcohol/ smoking, committing suicide so as to end the pain you feel, sexual urges that can lead to masturbation, cheating on spouse if married, or even having sex in your head, stealing to gain some money, etc, lying, being angry, cheating people or cheating during exams when you are blank, the need to always eat something, disobedience to those in authority over you when it’s inconvenient, fighting, disrespecting those under you cause of the “fear of you” feeling that comes with it, killing someone just for the satisfaction of not seeing them anymore and ending the pain they make you feel, procrastination and so many more!

Whew🤷‍♀️.. Wetin we no go see for this world? It’s almost like the moment you’re able to overcome one temptation, another one is standing at the door waiting for you. Sigh, why? 🤦‍♀️

Before we move on , I want to tell you something! Did you know, 1 Corinthians 10:13 says,
” No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance], but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy]”

Do you know it’s possible to endure without yielding to these temptations?

There’s so much I want to tell you, but there’s one point I want to get to (you can overcome temptations because God always provides a way out!)
I am not disregarding the satisfaction that yielding to this temptation comes with (whichever you are facing), after all, you are human and as a child of God, you can always ask for forgiveness and be forgiven. God will understand, right?

Romans 6:1-2,”What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

I mean, the fulfilling satisfaction that comes with taking in a drop of alcohol and forgetting all your worries, feeling the touch of someone else that satisfies your soul, feeling secure with having enough money to take care of pressing needs no matter the means of getting it, that temptation to just satisfy your current thirst and desire for revenge on that bully, that urge you feel to get angry and prove to people that you also have power, or, could it also be that urge to show people you are better than them spiritually, academically or financially? Feelings to urgently end your life?

1 Corinthians 10:12‭ says,
“Therefore let the one who thinks he stands firm [immune to temptation, being overconfident and self-righteous], take care that he does not fall [into sin and condemnation].”

Dear reader,
Believe me when I say, ” I understand you”. It’s not easy. Why should you be faced with something so pleasant after all?
The truth is, everyone has his or her cross to bear, how are you carrying yours though?
It may seem hard to overcome it or even easy, but the Bible says,” IT IS POSSIBLE TO OVERCOME IT”. GOD WILL NEVER LET YOU BE TEMPTED BEYOND YOUR CAPABILITIES. SO, HEY! HOLD ON, DON’T DO IT, FOR IN YOU LIES THE POWER TO OVERCOME THOSE SINS. No matter how hard/easy it gets, don’t yield. Ask the Holy spirit to help distract your focus and help you focus on the right things. He’s your helper, He will help. Believe this, He will help!

Please, be careful not to be overly confident however in your ability to overcome, you ignore the role of the Holy Spirit in helping prevent you from falling.

The truth that every Christian must learn is that, as the apostle says in his Corinthian letter, “you are not your own,” (1 Corinthians 6:19b RSV). You no longer belong to yourself. You must no longer let your own desires take first priority in life. Rather, submit your desires to God ( Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you- James 4:7).

1. Are you struggling with alcohol and drugs? Proverbs 31:4,” It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink”. Note! Royalty is exempted, you are royalty (be it you’re a girl /boy) once you become a child of The King of Kings by believing in Jesus Christ. Now, 👑 king / Queen , face that temptation not with pride but with confidence that with God you are more than a conqueror of all temptations.
2. Want to commit suicide?
   Psalm 55:2,”Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken”
   Psalm 34:18-19, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all”.

You are valuable my dear, you are worthy. Please, don’t take your life, for you are precious. You may already know that, know also then, that no pain is permanent. You are loved! Yes, you!

3. Battling sexual urges? Married or unmarried?
   1 Corinthians 6:18,” Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body”.
   Your body is God’s temple, His dwelling place, let’s strive to keep it pure. When the right time comes, you will have God’s blessing.
   How about those married but find it hard to stay with your spouse?Proverbs 5:15..
   For both men and women, ” You should be faithful to your wife, just as you take water from your own well”. Trust God to help you feed from your own well only, and He will help you.
4. Struggle with anger, unforgiveness, revenge?
   Ephesians 4:26-27,” BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity”
   Psalm 37:8-9,” Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land”
   God understands it’s possible for one to get you upset and hurt, but He says cease from it and wait on Him to help you through those times.
5. Feeling egoistic? Always fighting?
   Philippians 2:3 ESV
   “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves”

James 3:14-16 ESV
“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”

6. Always feeling tempted to procrastinate or eat ? Hebrews 12:11,”No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it”. Discipline yourself today and you will rejoice tomorrow .

Finally, my reader, 1 John 1:9 says ,” If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Jesus is the way. Today, surrender your life to him and let Him be the lord of your life. Let Him help you overcome those temptations.

Please say this prayer aloud with me, if you want to surrender your life to Jesus Christ,

“Heavenly Father, I completely surrender all my life to You! I adore You, for You are mighty and all-powerful, worthy of all my praise.I believe that Jesus, the son of God died on the cross for me and that He arose on the third day .Come into my life and make all things new. I ask for your forgiveness of sins and your grace to overcome the temptations I feel.By the working power of the Holy Spirit, I know  that all I need to do is call on name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and I will be saved.  Thank You for that privilege! I’m now born again ” .

If you said this prayer, I rejoice with you!🎉 Welcome to the body of Christ and be rest assured that heaven rejoices with you. I will be praying for you by God’s grace.

Please send me an email; paulinaboye045@gmail.com

Thank you for reading and I look forward to your responses 😁.

See you next time!

Boye, Paulina Sharon

28th February, 2020.