Escape Plan
One thing my husband and I have learned in our marriage is to have an escape plan before going into a situation that, in the past, didn’t end well. In fact, I would suggest this to any new couple. We have found that having a plan brings peace knowing there’s a way out and my husband and I are already unified in the plan. There’s trust in knowing that we have each other’s back, the key word being “trust.”
God does this for us when it comes to temptation. We can trust that He will help us resist and endure, but we have a responsibility as well.
1 Corinthians 10:12 - 13 says, “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”
This scripture tells us that we are not immune to temptation, but God equips us to face it. We all know our vices and what causes us to stumble. 1 Corinthians 10:12 tells us that even though we may think we are strong as believers, we should take precautions because temptation comes with being human. Being tempted is not where the sin occurs. How we respond to temptation is what matters.
1 Corinthians 10:13 encourages us in that “God is faithful” and He already has a good and perfect plan set out for us. He will provide a better path for us than falling into temptation, which could cause not only us but also others to backslide.
It’s our responsibility to recognize what tempts us and take precautions that protect us from giving in to temptation. For example, if you are married, don’t attend a private lunch meeting with the opposite sex. If you struggle with addiction to medication, share this with your medical providers so they can help create a plan and accountability if you need pain medication. Take ownership by being honest with yourself about your temptations and set up the proper guardrails.
More importantly, submit your struggles to the Lord. He will never leave or forsake you. He will “show you a way out so that you can endure.” The best escape plan is to respond to the voice of the Holy Spirit when He gives instruction or conviction.
I sense that someone reading this needs a reminder that conviction is different from shame. The Holy Spirit convicts in order to direct us towards the Lord’s perfect plan where shame leads to humiliation and keeps us stuck in a negative cycle. Please don’t get sucked into that cycle. That’s not the right guardrail or God’s perfect plan for you.
ACTIVATION: Ask the Lord if there’s something you need to give up in your life or some new guardrails you need to put in place to protect you from temptation. Confess this to the Lord and reach out to trusted family/friends to help hold you accountable.
PRAYER: Lord, thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to live in us and for conviction and protection against falling into temptation. Thank You, Lord, for forgiveness when we fall short and for reminding us that we are imperfect.
God does this for us when it comes to temptation. We can trust that He will help us resist and endure, but we have a responsibility as well.
1 Corinthians 10:12 - 13 says, “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”
This scripture tells us that we are not immune to temptation, but God equips us to face it. We all know our vices and what causes us to stumble. 1 Corinthians 10:12 tells us that even though we may think we are strong as believers, we should take precautions because temptation comes with being human. Being tempted is not where the sin occurs. How we respond to temptation is what matters.
1 Corinthians 10:13 encourages us in that “God is faithful” and He already has a good and perfect plan set out for us. He will provide a better path for us than falling into temptation, which could cause not only us but also others to backslide.
It’s our responsibility to recognize what tempts us and take precautions that protect us from giving in to temptation. For example, if you are married, don’t attend a private lunch meeting with the opposite sex. If you struggle with addiction to medication, share this with your medical providers so they can help create a plan and accountability if you need pain medication. Take ownership by being honest with yourself about your temptations and set up the proper guardrails.
More importantly, submit your struggles to the Lord. He will never leave or forsake you. He will “show you a way out so that you can endure.” The best escape plan is to respond to the voice of the Holy Spirit when He gives instruction or conviction.
I sense that someone reading this needs a reminder that conviction is different from shame. The Holy Spirit convicts in order to direct us towards the Lord’s perfect plan where shame leads to humiliation and keeps us stuck in a negative cycle. Please don’t get sucked into that cycle. That’s not the right guardrail or God’s perfect plan for you.
ACTIVATION: Ask the Lord if there’s something you need to give up in your life or some new guardrails you need to put in place to protect you from temptation. Confess this to the Lord and reach out to trusted family/friends to help hold you accountable.
PRAYER: Lord, thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to live in us and for conviction and protection against falling into temptation. Thank You, Lord, for forgiveness when we fall short and for reminding us that we are imperfect.
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