Temptation Follows Commitment

You dear children are from God and have overcome them,

because the One who is in you is greater

than the one who is in the world.

1 John 4:4

There is a basic spiritual truth that we all too often overlook when we make the decision to begin our self-care journey in earnest—or come back to it after falling away for a season: commitment brings temptation. Yes, in the rhythm of grace, commitment and temptation always go hand in hand. Throughout salvation history, we see this pattern repeat itself over and over again. Whenever someone makes a commitment to honor, worship, and serve God in new ways, the evil one is always lurking in the shadows, ready to test our resolve, eager to transform that commitment into failure. Even Jesus, immediately following his baptism, was taken to the desert to be tempted in the wilderness.

As Christ-followers, this is a cycle we must learn to anticipate, and knowing this spiritual truth, allows us to prepare ourselves for what lies ahead. Just as soon as we make a commitment to spiritual growth and change, we suddenly become aware of just how much temptation there is in our everyday environment. People, places, and things that test our resolve and dampen our desire to persevere bombard us from every direction. It is so easy to fall back into old, destructive habit patterns—and the evil one is always close at hand to fill our minds with doubt, deception, and denial.

Temptation in the wake of commitment is why the spiritual dimension of our lives is absolutely essential when we begin to make positive change. Through the daily spiritual practices of Bible study, Scripture reading, prayer, memorizing Bible passages that support our commitment, and encouraging others, we draw from a power inside us that is greater than the temptation that surrounds us. Most of us begin to practice the spiritual discipline of self- care because we want to achieve our health and fitness goals. But when we make positive change just about our outer behavior—food plans and exercise regimens—we have set ourselves up to fail. In addition to mental resolve, we need divine weapons to ward off the attacks of the evil one who waits on the sidelines, ready to lure us into temptation. Practicing the spiritual discipline of self-care is about balance—balance and utilizing the power of God’s Holy Spirit within us, confident that Heb has the strength to overcome the strongholds we are powerless to overcome on our own.

Today is the day to be mindful of the commitment-temptation cycle. Awareness allows us to protect ourselves with the impenetrable armor of God so that we can stand firm in God’s mighty power and resist the wiles of the evil one. When we make God an integral part of our commitment, we can be sure our plans will succeed!

Unless there is within us that which is above us,

we shall soon yield to that which is about us.

~~Peter Taylor Forsyth

---

A Question to Ponder: “Commitment and temptation always go hand and hand.” What temptations have presented themselves in new ways since you made the commitment to loving self-care? What spiritual weapons have you been able to use to counter these attacks?

A Prayer to Offer: Gracious and Loving Lord, thank you for giving me divine weapons to ward off the temptation that lurks in the shadows each time I make a new commitment to honor you through the practice of loving self-care. You are such an awesome God! You anticipate my needs before I am even aware that they exist. You have given me your word so that I can learn the rhythms of grace—rhythms of grace that help me live a life pleasing to you. I am thankful that you are a faithful Father who has great compassion for your children. Your mercies are new every morning. Thank you for forgiving my past failures so that I can begin each new day unburdened by the baggage of the past. Today I will avail myself of all the spiritual weapons in my self-care arsenal. I will read your word and pray, and I will encourage others even as I accept the encouragement they give me. Thank you for loving me and guiding me through this day. Amen.

An Action Step to Take: Recall the events of the past week with regard to your commitment to loving self-care. Pay close attention to the obstacles you encountered as you began each day’s portion of your self-care journey. Reflecting on the pattern you see, devise a plan that will allow you to use God’s divine weapons so that yesterday’s failures do not repeat themselves today!

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Put on the full armor of God so that you

can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,

but against the rulers, against the authorities,

against the powers of this dark world and against the

spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:10-12