Different Things God is teaching Me

PURSUING EGYPTIANS; PURSUING TEMPTATIONS

~How the Savior (and not self) is the solution to your temptations

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I failed this past week and briefly looked at porn. I confessed to Elisabeth later that day.
As I think about it more this morning, one of the many facets to the solution of our sexual temptations is realizing that we, in and of ourselves, are not the solution and its not ultimately up to us to figure this out. One of the many reasons (that takes searching and study to discover) to the mystery as to why God should let you and I struggle with these things is that He is causing and reminding us to be dependent on Him as our solution and to be dependent on the strength of His grace and not ultimately on our strength or good works.

"...this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. And their righteousness IS FROM ME." (Isaiah 54:17)
"There is not a just man on earth who does good, and does not sin." (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
"O my soul, you have said to the Lord, 'You are my Lord. My goodness is nothing apart from You.' " (Psalm 16:2)

When you and I feel the pressure of temptation, it is so easy to feel overwhelmed and not surrender the anxiety into God's hands and prayerfully look to Him and wait on Him. I am reading through Exodus for the first time in years, and this morning, chapter 14, is the familiar chapter of God miraculously dividing the Red Sea.

Israel had just been freed from their many century bondage, and after having been set free, their enemies chose to pursue them and were not content that they should live in freedom.
Satan and our flesh (old man) is the same with us. Having once been our captor and our false friend, now they are jealous against God's Spirit in us (Galatians 5:16-17) and jealous of our freedom. So they pursue us to bring us back into bondage.

Here again is one of the many facets to the solution God mercifully and faithfully provides you and me: "Do not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today...the Lord will fight for you..." (Exodus 14:13)

God knows that it is hard for us to be still and to not be afraid, or else He wouldn't have taken the time to encourage us and tell us. It takes faith, hope, and love for God to trust that He will be our solution to the mix of the created and fallen sexual urges that are within us; to also remember what Jesus said:

"...whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake [by denying himself, taking up his cross daily and following Me] will save it." (Luke 9:23-24)

The enemy would love to see that we see incorrectly...that we see ourselves as the solution or that the solution to our getting out of temptation's attack is alone up to us; to not remember that God is with us and God is not only for but also IS our deliverance. We do not serve a deistic and distant god, but rather the Father-God who, through and in His Son, helps us when we stumble.

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen." ~Jude 1:24‭-‬25

"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." ~Hebrews 4:15‭-‬16

"I love the Lord , because He has heard My voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live. The pains of death surrounded me, And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the Lord : “O Lord , I implore You, deliver my soul!” Gracious is the Lord , and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord In the land of the living." ~Psalms 116:1‭-‬9