Sugar Fast Day 10
Today was a lesson in overcoming temptation. This morning when I opened my email my inbox had an enticing offer from my favorite coffee place. I had to delete it. But not before being tempted enough to open the email and see what the offer was. The Bible tells me that I will never be tempted with more than I can bear and that God will always provide a way out of that temptation (1Cor 10:13). I don’t know if God crafted this particular offer, but it was for a regular cup of coffee. YUCK!
After tossing the offer in the trash and feeling relieved that my 40 day fast was still in tact, I started to beat myself up. “Kathy, see, you really aren’t as strong as you think you are. You were going to go for that cup of coffee. You were going to fail, again, just like you always do.” That, my friends, is the voice of the devil. God, on the other hand, is very clear about who I am and I need to remember what He says about me.
I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)
Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin. (Proverbs 24:16)
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
Jesus Is My Strength
These scriptures are good reminders that it is God’s strength that gets me through life. Overcoming temptation of any kind is not about willpower. It is about surrendering, in this instance, my love of sugar, seeking Jesus to fill that yearning for something sweet, and resting in His power to resist eating sugar.
Today, I did NOT fail and I am NOT a failure. I didn’t even stumble on this tempting offer in my inbox, but even if I had, I would have gotten up instead of stumbling into ruin and despair. God tells me that I am more than a conqueror. When overcoming temptation, Jesus is my strength.