Maneuvers No. 1
Made to
Withstand Temptation
I remember the last time I sinned. The last time I felt that sting of shame or regret when I did something I knew wasn’t what God wanted.
We’ve all been there, friend. But fewer of us know why we cave to those temptations. Some people tell themselves, “It’s simply because the temptation is too strong” or “I’m just a sinner; I can’t help but give in. It’s who I am.”
But neither of those thoughts touch on the real reason we give in to sin’s tempting call. Today, Holy Spirit wants to lovingly shine the light on the true “why.”
As he speaks and shines a light on those uncomfortable parts of who we are, let’s resist the urge to shy away. Let’s choose to face his voice and listen intently. Although uncomfortable, his voice isn’t condemning. He speaks to those shameful places with a compassion more tender than we can imagine.
Now, let’s open our ears to the Spirit and lean in. It’s time to listen:
01.
The Message
“The experience of being tempted is a trial you face over and over again. The deceiver comes to show you—entice you to imagine—a world where I am not, a world rich with discord, empty of harmony and hope. The deceiver invites you to consider believing things that have no substance, no weight, no truth—alluring you with information so you feel unloved. Soon, this feeling changes to belief—and you believe that you are unloved: unworthy, broken, unnecessary, replaceable, forgotten, unwanted, unneeded, unchosen, unvalued, uncared for, messed up, a disgrace, an embarrassment, a failure, a mistake.
“Oh, this hurts. I know.
“I don’t want you to hurt like this. I don’t want you to believe these things about yourself.
“When you do, when you believe these untruths about who you are, you can’t help but take action on them. You can’t help but respond—by attempting to prove, or disprove these beliefs. To yourself. And to anyone around who will hear.
“If you feel unloved, you are tempted to look for love anywhere you can find it. Sometimes this amounts to a good—or positive experience—something wholesome and fortifying for your heart. And sometimes this amounts to more pain. Because when you feel that you are unloved, fundamentally unloved, you are vulnerable to believing other lies about yourself too: You are not good enough. You are broken. You are a failure. At your core, you can’t imagine feeling any different.”
“Feeling unloved is the root of all temptation, the root of believing any lie. For with love comes wisdom, the deep knowing of safety, of security, of being held and known and desired. My love for you is protection. Protection against temptation to believe in any lies.
“When my Son was tempted in the desert, after being led there by my Spirit, he had been fasting for 40 days. He was weak, tired, completely spent—emotionally and physically. But spiritually, he was strong. He was sustained and completely defended by my love. He discerned my voice in the desert. He remembered my words, ‘This is my Son, in whom I am well-pleased.’ He knew what was true because he knew me. He was able to reject the temptations of the deceiver because he discerned love from hate, truth from lies. He wanted to heed my voice—my voice only. He knew the voice of love, of truth, of life, of hope, of peace, of joy—of all that is good and whole and perfect.
“You, too, are made to withstand temptation—deception by the deceiver. For I love you, and I am for you, and I am with you. Stay close to me. Listen to me. I will help you discern. I will help you know what is good for your heart.”
02.
Listen
When we give in to the lie that we’re unloved, we are far more susceptible to temptation. Our heavenly Father speaks directly to that lie by saying: “You are loved. You are seen. You are whole in me.” What stood out to you most from this week’s FLAG message? How does your heart respond to Holy Spirit in prayer? Get out your journal and write it down.
03.
Think
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us”
(Psalm 103:11-12, ESV).
1. What is one way you have been believing the lie that God doesn’t love you?
2. When have you felt that his love depends on your behavior?
3. What experiences have taught you to believe that you’re broken or beyond repair? What Scripture verses directly refute that lie? Write them down.
04.
Trust
If Eve knew just how much God loved her, do you think she would have eaten the forbidden fruit? We don’t think so. Think about it for a moment… why did she eat it? Did she believe the serpent’s lie that God was withholding something good from her?
Every time we sin, we fall into that same trap of feeling unloved. But your Father is reaching out his arms to you today, saying, “I love you. I love you. I love you. I gave you everything, even my only Son, so I could give you my best.”
Read this paragraph from this week’s FLAG message one more time:
“Feeling unloved is the root of all temptation, the root of believing any lie. For with love comes wisdom, the deep knowing of safety, of security, of being held and known and desired. My love for you is protection. Protection against temptation to believe in any lies.”
Take a deep breath and think deeply: Is there something you feel God is withholding from you? Is there something you’ve been praying about for years that still hasn’t been answered? Write those things down in your journal and ask Holy Spirit how he wants you to view these unanswered desires.
Sometimes those desires aren’t good for us. Sometimes he’s simply saying, “Not yet. Just wait. I have a plan.” And other times, he is doing another work entirely. But whatever the reason, he is always working for our good and his glory.
What is Holy Spirit speaking to you about your unanswered requests?
05.
Pray
Father, you are so good. You’re abounding in love and slow to anger. Even when I sin, your Word says that you still love me. You’re still for me. You still forgive me. I have to confess to you, though, that sometimes after I’ve sinned, I believe the lie that you don’t or can’t love me anymore. I know it’s not true, but the feeling weighs so heavy on my heart that I often don’t know how to respond to it. It clouds my thinking. But I don’t want to believe those lies anymore, God. I’m tired of them. I want your truth to reign in my heart so much that the lies don’t have any space to hide. Fill me, Holy Spirit, with a fresh revelation of your love. Let me know you better and believe that what you say about me is true: I’m whole in you. I’m a new creation. I’m alive. I’m free. I love you so much, Lord. Draw me close now. I open my hands to you in worship. I love you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Waving the banner with you,
