When we think about temptation what comes to mind? Do we see drugs, alcohol, desserts, fornication/adultery, stealing, and so much more? Temptation is defined as an enticement or invitation to sin, violating God’s law by pursuing evil desires, often disguised as pleasure or gain. Temptation can also be classified as the flesh “And the temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not..” Galatians 4:14. While "temptation" suggests an enticement to evil, the Greek word peirasmos can also mean a "trial" or "test" allowed by God to reveal character, strengthen faith, and mature the believer.

There is a story in the bible about a man named Joseph; an overseer of Potiphar’s house in Egypt, who was tempted by Potiphar’s wife to sleep with her; however, Joseph refused and said “Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Genesis 39:8-9. This did not stop Potiphar’s wife from pursuing Joseph. Day by day she tempted him more, and more until finally one day she grabbed him by his clothes while in Potiphar’s house and demanded that he sleep with her, but Joseph who loved God, ran from her with his clothes still in her hands. This goes to show that the feeling of being tempted is not a sin; however, yielding to that temptation is.

Let’s say we struggle to overcome drinking alcohol; and if so, then alcohol who need to be removed from the house and also the people that we associate with who partake in it. Why? If we were to stay around the things that our flesh cherishes, would only give Satan an advantage to tempt you more. Just the same as being around desserts, drugs, stealing, lusts, etc., if we stay around these things it would only make it harder for us to overcome. Just like the saying “out of sight, out of mind” meaning that people or things tend to be forgotten or disregarded when they are not in view or present. The bible says “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7. By submitting we are fully surrendering to God’s will and not our own. When temptation presents itself depending on what it is we should immediately pray, or run from it; just like Joseph, because when we stay and linger around our fleshes desires we can’t overcome or gain the victory on our own, because we need Christ. This is why the bible demands us to “pray without ceasing” 1Thessalonians 5:17, because we can be tempted at any given moment, and we must be ready when it comes, to decide whether to pray, or run in the opposite direction.

“And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation” Luke 22:46. Prayer will keep us from falling into temptation, if only we will draw nigh to God, will God then draw nigh to us.