This week's work in the First Place 4 Health's, Begin With Christ study , God's Truth and Temptation's Lie, laid a wonderful foundation for moving forward beginning with the memory verse,
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
With each day's study, we looked at the ways Satan tempts us to despair and defeat, learning that temptation "...is always a solicitation to fill a legitimate need in an illegitimate way...temptation always promises something it can't deliver." (p. 87) By studying the passage of Jesus being tempted in Matthew 3, we were able to see by example that Jesus himself was tested but stood firm against all of Satan antics. In essence, we learned these following points (which I originally shared in this post):
- We will be tested by the Devil's schemes. God permits it.
- These tests may come close together, one after another, and God will use each of them to develop our character.
- Our best, and only, response is the Word and prayer.
- The greatest testing period of our lives may very well occur just before a great ministry opportunity.
- Unlike Jesus, we are not without sin. We may fail under trial. But Jesus gives us the exact course of action: Repent. (Matthew 4:17).
- God also promises in 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." -- which gives us clear instruction to stand firm in the midst of trial.
- Follow Christ's example.
- Quote Scripture exactly and often.
- Resist and stand firm.
- God is faithful as our Redeemer, Provider, Source of Strength, Forgiver.
Share with us, either in a comment below or a link to a post at your blog, how this week's homework was used by the Lord in your life to expose your thinking and lifestyle choices. Also take a minute to jot down your responses to the accountability questions below.
A Short Break...
This is also perfect timing for me as I prepare for a few key events happening over the next two months with a deeper, personal immersion in Scripture. I'll return to the study on May 8th, posting on Week 7: Spiritual Food for Spiritual Life. If you have any questions, please feel free to drop me an email at extragrace (at) gmail (.) com. If you'd like to being, look on the sidebar and start with the Introduction.
Accountability Questions
1. How did you do in terms of your wellness goal from the last week?
2. What goal have you set for this coming week?
3. If you want to share, what is your weight loss goal / how much did you lose?
4. How can we pray for you?
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
~~~~~
My Personal Response
This week was incredibly encouraging to me. I find this study is more about my spiritual health then my physical at this point. I needed to see the example of Jesus being tempted repeatedly and resisting the devil's schemes. It is firmly cemented in my mind, I do believe will be key in enabling me to stand firm in trials and temptations that I will inevitably face.
Accountability Questions
- How did you do in terms of your wellness goal from the last week?
I was much more conscience of cutting back on sugar, so in that regard it was a successful week. I forgot to pray about it, however. Always room to grow. - What goal have you set for this coming week?
Simply to keep going with the habits and truth's I've learned. - If you want to share, what is your weight loss goal / how much did you lose?
I haven't lost a pound, but I haven't gained. I feel healthier, because I'm making wiser choices. - How can we pray for you?
To keep on pressing on in the pursuit of wellness.
Posts
2 Comments:
The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness right before his temptations from the devil, meaning the Lord allowed these temptations to happen—not because He meant harm to befall Christ, but because He knew Christ would succeed! Therefore, God wants me to look upon difficult trials and temptations in my life as an opportunity from Him to succeed, not as something too difficult to overcome. However, the enemy is lurking nearby. He wants me to focus on that which “seems” to be my present need (such as Christ’s hunger after a 40-day fast) and wants to bring it to attention in a way that causes me to doubt God’s love and provision (such as saying to Christ “IF you are the Son of God…”)
Satan desires to bring me into a place where I doubt God’s provision in my life. In doing so, he will then try to meet my legitimate need in an illegitimate way (such as by getting Christ to fulfill his hunger by turning stones into bread). Practically in my life, this might happen when Satan tempts me to eat something fast and convenient rather than take the time to prepare my own meal at home. He might tempt me to eat unhealthy food just because it is easily accessible or free.
Satan is an opportunist who will strike when and where I am most vulnerable. He will use my legitimate needs or desires against me in an effort to make me sin. Because the needs or desires are legitimate, it makes it that much easier to rationalize away the sin. But this is dangerous! I LOVE that Jesus responds to Satan’s temptation by directly quoting scripture. Rather than distorting the message from the Lord as Eve does in Genesis, Christ quotes the Lord verbatim. There is no room for distortion. I must learn to do the same, to rebuke Satan’s lies in my life with the TRUTH—the direct, word for word, God-breathed scripture. When faced with temptation, I must pray and persevere.
1. How did you do in terms of your wellness goal from the last week?
I am writing this post much too long after the fact. I don’t remember! :(
2. What goal have you set for this coming week?
My goal during the time of a “break” from the study was to continue with my exercise habits. One thing I wanted to really work on was becoming a better runner. I think this is such a spiritual thing for me… because if I am being honest, in regards to running, I am a big baby! I am not mentally tough in this area at all.
I have no idea why it’s like this, but not being good at running is something that is highly emotional to me! Satan fills my mind with all kinds of lies during the running process… and quite frankly, I am sick of it!
Running on a treadmill has become fairly easy to me. I can jog at 5.5 MPH for 30 minutes. Not too shabby, right?! Wrong! Because you stick this same girl outside and ask her to jog slowly for 30 minutes… and within about 5, she’s ready to quit! It makes me cry. It makes me cuss. Then that makes me cry worse because I feel guilty for cussing. Then I get mad that I am crying, so I cuss more. It’s ugly. Why?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I really have no idea! So my goal during this time was to continue with exercising… but more importantly, to attempt to transition into being able to run outside with a perseverant spirit instead of a cantankerous one! :)
3. If you want to share, what is your weight loss goal / how much did you lose?
Um, I think according to my records, at this point… since this study took me 2 weeks to complete… I lost 4 pounds, for a total of 19 lost since January.
4. How can we pray for you?
Your prayer request was interesting because I have always associated Philippians 3:13-14 with running. I’d say you can pray for me regarding the same thing. I think you know enough intimate details about my life now via email that you can pretty much take your pick about what to pray for me about! :)
It took me awhile to find your post on here. Are you still doing the Pursuing Wellness?
http://staceykrull.blogspot.com/2009/09/pursuing-wellness-gods-truth.html
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Blessings, extravagantly,
Lisa