TEMPTATIONS:BLOG ENTRY 27

TEMPTATIONS by Melondy Roberson

You tried to distract me with the lust of the flesh, 

Wrapped in deceptions like a spider of Satan’s mesh,

With sweet nothings that dripped like berries from his alluring lips, 

You tried to turn the wheel in hopes of death from lost grips, 

Stealing my mind like a duck on a platter,

Stirring up chaos like burning matter,

Drawn by illusions and mirages of this infinite remedy,

But the savior knew the plans he had for me even at Calvary,

Desiring to delight my physical needs,

Beyond the wages of sin my faith begin to intercede, 

As I saw God’s hand reaching for my life,

Every impurity cutback by this piercing knife,

You tried to kill me with the lust of the eye,

Tall, dark, handsome, nice suit, and a bow-tie,

Arms full of muscles, but heart full of game,

Hand full of jokers, you desired to drive me insane, 

Tried to take my eyes off the target and miss the red dot,

 Like a speeding bullet aiming for me to be shot,

You tried to destroy my heart with the pride of life,

Producing selfish ostentation and self-seeking cockiness to entice, 

Senseless rewards for me you desired for me to seek,

For my selfish motives to become a mouse without expression of a squeak,

But Lord I couldn’t stop thinking of you,

So I walked towards what I knew was true.

I fought past my unsympathetic feelings to lean on your word. 

It was then that I heard your voice like the sweet song of a Nightingale bird.

It is easily to get distracted so I have to continue to look towards the hills. 

Lord, your love alone for me simply gives me chills.

Let's talk about it: As Christians, we sometimes struggle with temptations. God may send test to make you stronger for the purpose of uplifting, but temptations specifically are designed by Satan to kill, steal, and destroy you.  

We may even struggle internally do the right thing even if we never commit the act. We question God's timing and compare ourselves to other individuals whose walk has nothing to do with ours. My dad always use to say never be so prideful or holy enough to think that you can't be tempted. Satan knows exactly what you like as well as your weaknesses and he dress it up pretty well. But the truth always comes to the light in due season if we continue to do the right thing and be open enough to hear the truth. I have found that God will show you the truth instantly if you want to see it even though the truth may not always be pretty. You have to be careful what situations you place yourself in if it can be avoided. Remember that you are not beyond temptation. The struggle can be real. Many times if we are honest then we already know!  You knew when you picked up that phone at 1:06a.m, but you second guessed yourself. No, trust your FIRST mind. Girl, but it's haaaaarrrrd! ( in my whiny voice). Annnnnd! No one said it wouldn't be, but there comes a point in time when you have got to get real with yourself.

And even when you are face to face with that temptation, God always provides a way of escape. Whether it is as small, as the phone ringing in the moment of interruption. We decide to take the path that we take. Temptation looks a lot like escape. Temptation is said to be escape's evil twin. But temptation always looks much bigger than escape. So we hold on when we should really be letting go. Temptation may even look enticing and feel good temporally until we come face to face to the reality that its goal is to kill, steal, and destroy us. Many people walk around with the fears and anxieties. You don't have to! We all sometimes make mistakes and fall down. We can get back up and ask for forgiveness. Ask God for strength and peace of mind. I can honestly say that I am not perfect, but I fighting this fight too. It use to get on my nerves when people use to say you are just a goodie two shoes. You are nearly perfect. No crazy, I aint Jesus and far from perfect. And you can learn a lot from just watching other people as examples of what to do and not to do. Then, some things you just have to go through for yourself. In understanding that no one is perfect, you begin to learn compassion without bending your values.

So when you mess up...

DON'T STAY DOWN... hold your ground. And even on those days that the inner struggle is REAL, faint not and remember that the battle is not even yours. It belongs to the Lord and the fight is fixed. You win in the end if you choose not to give in.