A huge piece of bakery deliciousness sat in front of me. It was a combination of three desserts in one. One layer was cheesecake, one layer was ice cream cake, and in between those was a layer of brownie-like chocolate cake… all drizzled with some kind of fudge icing that was calling my name.
This was served to me while on a family vacation. At the time, I was at the beginning of my no-sugar adventure. I'd been doing great at home, but I'd been dropped into a place that was teeming with bakery things my mind could not even conceive of, while everyone around me could eat a pound of sugar a day and still look fit and trim.
I didn't want my family to miss out, so I told them to please enjoy. "I'm fine," I said with a carefree smile. But inside a totally different dialogue was playing in my mind:
I think this is one of the biggest tricks Satan plays on us girls to get us to give in to temptation.
Saying "it's not fair" has caused many a girl to toss aside what she knows is right for the temporary thrill of whatever it is that does seem fair. But the next day the sun will rise. As each band of light becomes brighter and brighter, the realization of the choice she made the night before becomes clearer and clearer.
Guilt floods her body.
Questions fill her mind.
Self-doubt wrecks her confidence.
And then comes the anger. Anger at herself. Anger at the object of her desire. Anger even at a mighty God who surely could have prevented this.
It's not fair that others can have this, do this, act this way.
It's not fair that God won't let us eat of the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden… one little bite wouldn't be so bad, right?
It's not fair I can't buy that new thing I want. Just a little debt wouldn't be so bad, right?
It's not fair I have this body that requires I watch everything I eat when that girl eats junk and stays a size 4. One piece of cheesecake wouldn't be so bad, right?
It's not fair that we can't have sex before we're married when we're so in love. Experimenting one time wouldn't be so bad, right?
Our flesh buys right into Satan's lie that it's not fair for things to be withheld from us. So we bite into the forbidden fruit and allow Satan to write shame across our heart.
And whether we are talking about having premarital sex or cheating on our diet, once we taste the forbidden fruit, we will crave it more than we craved it before — thereby giving temptation more and more power. And given enough power, temptation will consume our thoughts, redirect our actions, and demand our worship.
Temptation doesn't take kindly to being starved.
I don't know what tempts you today. But I do know this vicious cycle, and I'm here to give you hope that it's possible to conquer it.
Just typing that sentence gives me chills. A few years ago, I wondered if it might ever be possible for me.
As I've mentioned, the eating plan I chose was a no-sugar, healthy-carbs-and-protein plan. Which doesn't sound so bad until you realize sugar is in just about everything we enjoy eating. Breads, pasta, potatoes, rice, not to mention all things bakery-licious.
So, sitting at that special dinner during my special vacation, I started to have a little pity party, and those words It's not fair crept into my brain.
In that instant I squirmed in my chair and thought, I'll take just one little bite… maybe two… I've been so good… I even exercised this morning… this is vacation… everyone else is indulging… oh my stars, what are you doing, Lysa?!
The sugar was like a siren of mythical tales, luring the ships over to rocky coves that would inevitably dash and destroy them. The seduction was smooth and seemingly innocent. But in that moment of temptation, I realized having a pity party was a clue I was relying on my own strength.
I had to grab hold of God's strength, and the only way to do that was to invite His power into this situation. In this case, I gave God control of the situation by mentally reciting, I am made for more. I am made for more.
I recalled pieces of scriptures I've tied to this go-to script and banked up in my heart.
I'm more than a conqueror.
With God all things are possible.
Let the peace of God reign in your heart.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one…
The problem is, Satan hit me with a twist that left me momentarily shaky: But this is a special time, Lysa. And special times deserve an exception to your normal parameters. It's not fair that you have to sacrifice. Look around you. No one else is sacrificing right now.
It's at this exact point when the dieter on vacation indulges. The virgin sleeps with her prom date. The girl on a debt reduction plan pulls her credit card back out for a big sale. The alcoholic skips AA and heads off to the bar for her friend's fortieth birthday.
I needed a go-to script for this situation. So I lowered my head and prayed, "God, I am at the end of my strength here. The Bible says Your power is made perfect in weakness. This would be a really good time for that truth to be my reality. Help me see something else besides this temptation looming so large in front of me."
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