Temptation:  Beat Feet  –  Keep in Step with the Spirit

One of the best tools for resisting temptation, former procrastinators, is attached to the end of our legs.  Sometimes we just need to beat feet – physically hurry out of the situation.  That’s what Joseph did.  (Yes, he was framed and went to prison, but he remained faithful to the Lord God.  And he was freed from prison and made second highest in the land. God used him mightily.)  Three ways to beat feet:

Run away.

Maybe like me, you were at a party and realized “I don’t need to be here” and you left.  A friend tells of calling her dad to pick her up when her date’s behavior turned inappropriate.  We’ve walked out of movies.  Don’t stand gazing into the refrigerator if you ought not snack. Leave the scene by doing the job you need to do.

Having the armor and God’s Word, does not give us license to loiter where there’s temptation.

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”  (I Corinthians 10:13)   That doesn’t mean hang around to endure; it means take the way out.

Make no provision

Romans 13:14 says “make no provision for the flesh.”  Do not give ourselves an opening to slip through.  No “just in case it turns out to be okay.”  Is shopping hard to resist?  Leave the credit cards at home.  Snacking a problem?  Buy apples instead of chocolate bars. Need to clean the garage?  Avoid filling the calendar with preferred activities and reserve a day to do that job.

Think ahead.

Sometimes, if we just think about a situation ahead of time, we realize we shouldn’t put ourselves in that situation to begin with.  “I know the focus of that group.  I’ll decline the invitation.”  What a blessing to be spared negative consequences and regret because of foresight and a wise choice.

One woman told her friend, “We’ve decided not to hang out with the Smiths.  Every time we do, it’s an evening of complaints.  When we spend time with you two, we come away uplifted.”

This little story sums up three ways to flee temptation.  An old cowboy used to go into town for supplies.  He’d return home drunk.

 “Jake, why do you do that?” 

“Well, I’m always right there at the saloon.” 

“Why?” 

“That’s where I hitch my horse.” 

“Hey, man, hitch your horse to another post.”

What hitching post do you need to change?  What will you do to physically remove yourself from temptation?