When we’re tempted to take the wrong path. We’ll all face temptation at some point. Even Jesus did. Out in the wilderness, the enemy tempted Jesus three times. But each time, He replied using Scripture. He chose to declare God’s truth rather than give in to the enemy’s temptations. When we’re feeling tempted, we need to do the same thing. We need to be memorising Bible verses so we know what to declare when we’re tempted to take the wrong path. The psalmist wrote: ‘I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you’ (Psalm 119:11 NIV). We need to store up God’s Word in our hearts and minds so we’re prepared when we face temptation. Here are some verses we can stand on: ‘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’ (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT); ‘I can do all this through him who gives me strength’ (Philippians 4:13 NIV); ‘Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings’ (1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV); ‘Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh’ (Galatians 5:16 NIV). We need to be declaring verses like these out loud to help us make the right decisions. With God strengthening us, we can be courageous enough to overcome temptation. 

What Now?

Choose one of the verses from the reading to memorise. Whenever you feel tempted to do something that isn’t right, declare that verse out loud.