A large part of being victorious over temptation is believing that you can be. It’s also fully realize the consequences of giving in to whatever the temptation is. Of course, the consequences of eating that extra piece of cake verse shooting up heroin, on the surface, seem as different as day is from night. The fact, the truth is that the person giving in to (their own personal) temptation is submitting to something against their will (maybe better said, against their best interests), a something that they have the authority to conquer. Things are out of order.

“God said, Let Us [Father, Son and Holy Spirit] make Mankind in Our image, after Our likeness and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air , the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of god He created him; male and female He created the. And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves upon the earth.” Genesis 1: 26 – 28 [Amp]

The foundation of overcoming temptation MUST be laid BEFORE you come face to face with the temptation. As I said earlier (in part 1), the last thing that most want to hear when dealing with a temptation is a bible verse. The letter of the law can’t help you in this tight spot, but the Spirit behind the law, the Spirit living inside of you, is there to do lead you through it, if you let Him. But it does little good to try to learn how to hear and recognize the voice of God during the fight. Faith (that you can be victorious) does come by hearing (Romans 10:17). Yet at times when the emotion wounds and the lies of Satan are screaming at you and stealing your focus, you’re like a person who doesn’t know how to swim trying to learn in the middle of a raging storm. It just doesn’t work!!! Remember that a stolen focus is a stolen future!!!

Here are a few things to put in your tool belt to practice using before you get into the fight:

• · Take emotional ownership of WHO YOU ARE – You are an overcomer, an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus Himself (Purpose daily to live as His representative here on earth with the very same authority that He has over every situation that you may face).
• · Know that thoughts always come in pairs. You choose the thought that you will give power to (there is always a way of escape, you just have to want it bad enough to take it).
• · Decide what YOU WANT (or NEED) to do BEFORE hand. To decide means to CUT OFF, which leads to…
• · Making the WHY of being healthy (of making a Godly choice) larger that any pain that you may face. Satan's key tool for deception is your very own imagination. “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” 2 Corinthians 10:4 -5 [KJV]

That’s enough to chew on for today, Remember, the battle IS the Lord’s, but we ARE on the front line.

Pastor Michael Larkins is the Author of “Victorious Nuggets – Transforming Self-Esteem into Christ-Esteem.

For more of his blogs go to his web site www.thewealthresponse.com