1. You must have this or that right away!

2. There is no point in waiting when it is at your reach.

3. What does God know; He does not want you to have fun.

4. No one is watching.

5. Go ahead this one time.

6. You will like it; try it.

All temptation starts with a thought process put in our mind by Satan. When that thought process is rehearsed over and over with false and deceptive rationalizations, they are acted upon and become actions. Once an action is done then Satan will not use those same reasons above but now becomes your accuser and puts thoughts such as these in your mind:

1. God does not love you after what you have done!

2. You are no Christian because of what you have done!

These are only some of the ways that Satan accuses. You see friend, when Satan entices people to let them give into temptations, he paints a rosy picture but in reality you do not get the rosy picture but the thorn picture of pain, shame, and hurt.

There is Good News however, friend and the victory is the Lord’s. Just as Jesus overcame temptation, we can too by following biblical principles. When Satan tempts you, you can resist him by quoting Scripture to him and commanding him to leave you alone. You have to focus on the Lord and allow Him to work in your life. God’s Word, prayer, and a community of believers who are loving but not judgmental can help you go a long way. Look at the way Jesus handled temptation using Scripture in Luke 4:1-13 and Matthew 4:1-11. You can too!

There will be times we still give in because of our flesh. In those situations, forgiveness is available at the cross and you can move on. Jesus loves you so much even when you mess up. He wants to help you and you can come to Him as you are. Let Him guide you and lead you. Yes, friend, He wants to help you! Experience the power of His love !!!

To do that, you need to acknowledge what a sinner you are and in need of a Savior. Yes, friend we all need a Savior and only Christ is the perfect Lamb of God who had no sin but became sin for us that we may attain the righteousness of God.

Jesus went through all kinds of temptation and yet did not sin. So, Jesus can understand what we go through. To fight Satan and his temptations, we need the Lord Jesus Christ's power in our own lives to be victorious. The Victory is the Lord's and we have just begun to fight. But the victory started at the cross of Calvary for us.

If Jesus did not die for our sins shedding His precious cleansing blood, was not buried, and did not come back to life to save us, then we all would still be lost but Jesus did die for our sins shedding His precious cleansing blood, was buried, and came back to life to save all those that would turn to Him.

It is turning to Jesus always that helps us endure through the temptations. It starts with walking and talking with Jesus making Him central to our lives and using His instruction manual which is the Word of God to fight and endure all kinds of temptation.

I know God's Word helps me tremendously letting me know that I am saved by grace through faith and not of any works that I can boast. I know Jesus invited me to be His very own when He paid the ultimate cost on the cross of Calvary for my redemption. Friend, Jesus did the same for you.

It is exciting to know whatever temptation comes our way, we have Jesus in our lives to help us endure temptation when we turn to Him making His Lord and personal Savior of our lives.

I have done that friend and won't you?

My loving wife Chandra always ask me to pray for her when she senses thoughts coming to her mind that should not be. She does not want to act on thoughts that are not biblical. I don't want to think thoughts or act on thoughts that are not biblical too.

I want to share with you a poem, the Lord Jesus helped me to write years ago. It is called ‘Enduring Temptation’ and was written to help a lot of people. This one goes with the Scriptures from Romans 7:14-8:1:

Enduring Temptation
By Ramesh C. Reddy

Giving into temptation making you feel so low?
There seems nowhere to go,
Making your life a tremendous blow
Causing you to be full of woe?
Devil's temptation has become your foe?
There ain't no escape you think you know?
Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!
Though temptation is very strong
It wont last very long.
Cause Jesus, our Savior is the Way! (John 14:6)
For us sinners, he did the price pay. (1 Cor 6:20)
So as we turn to Him and pray, (Matt 26:41)
He will help us overcome Satan each day! (1 John 4:4)
Now Satan's temptation's tremble and cant stay! (James 4:7)
So you see how it goes. (Nah 1:7)
With Jesus we can overcome our foes! (Romans 8:31)
When we are tempted, (1 Cor 10:13)
He will let us be exempted (Revelation 3:10)
Before committing what was attempted! (Heb 2:18)
He is the Light! (1 John 1:5)
Will make us do what is right. (John 12:36)
By His blood we have been made white! (1 John 1:7)
With the Lord, the devil we can fight! (Philippians 4:13)
So with Jesus please walk! (John 8:12)
So with you He can talk! (Isaiah 30:21)
And be our mighty Rock! (Psalm 18:1-3)
He wants to open our hearts lock! (John 3:16)
Our heart Jesus knocks with a big knock! (Rev 3:20)

"There Exist Many Petrifying Things And Temptation Is One Naturally!" (T.E.M.P.T.A.T.I.O.N)/"How do you handle T.E.M.P.T.A.T.I.O.N in life?"

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I love you so much. Thank you Lord you love me more than words can say. Lord Jesus as you already know, I keep getting tempted by Satan and many times fail to do what is right. This makes me feel so low because I have gone my own way. Please Lord I ask you to forgive me when I get tempted and do the wrong. On my own I know Lord that I will keep committing the same mistakes which you know I hate and cannot help it. I humble myself before you Lord. I realize I am a sinner and accept my peril before you and yield my life to you. Help me please Lord to follow your ways. You are my hiding place OH Lord. I trust you completely. You keep me from stumbling, thank you Lord. Thank you Jesus you are my Light and my Salvation. You will let me overcome any temptation I am facing. Thank you Lord you know how temptation is because you experienced it in the wilderness when Satan tempted you many times. Yet, you did not give in. Thank you for being able to relate with us when we are tempted. We turn to you for help.  Thank you Jesus for making us white as freshly fallen snow. I invite you into my heart. IN YOUR NAME I PRAY JESUS, AMEN.

Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help!

No matter who you are, it is not ever too late to join a Bible-believing church or a college fellowship. I highly encourage each of you to come to Transformers Small Group on Friday nights at 7:00 p.m. and Oakland International Fellowship on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. for prayer, 11:30 a.m. for worship, 10:30 a.m. for Sunday School, and 12:30 p.m. for fellowship lunch.

May the Lord's presence and peace fill you with His love now and forever! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-641-9426

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)