TEMPTATION by Melanie Schurr

John A. Shedd, author of "Salt from My Attic," had this to say about temptation," Many men have too much will power. It's won't power they lack."

This sentiment of not giving in to one's desires seems to go against what society tends to support; the idea that man should not deprive himself of everything he craves.

Want a burger and fries even though the doctor said your cholesterol was too high? Go and get it at the local fast food restaurant! Getting tired of your spouse? Divorce them and find a new one! Bored? Go out and have a fling! Feeling down in the dumps? Let's get drunk and stoned! After all, everybody is doing it!

Not every urge, craving, and desire is a worthy one, for even the drug addict hungers for his next high, yet we all know drugs are bad for you!

Saying,"No," to temptations seems to not only go against the "Go for it" philosophy many people in our society promote, but even our body and mind seems to fight as we deprive it of the fuel it hungers for, regardless if this "fuel" is good or bad for our spiritual and emotional welfare.

Many people perceive temptation as a bad thing. The reality is that it is not a bad thing, but a human thing. Everyone has faced temptation of one form or another in their life.

Temptation shows us where our weaknesses lie, and it is the wise man who uses this information to his best advantage. These weaknesses that become revealed to us through temptation are areas in our life which the devil knows he may find either an open door, or even a tiny crack he can slip into.

The good news is, the more we say, "no" to temptation and ungodly desires, the more we actually strengthen those weak spots! God does not desire us to run and hide from temptation, but to face it head-on so that we may clearly see the potential pit before us. Our heavenly Father desires us to confess our sins, admit our weaknesses, and to ask Him for the strength and wisdom we need to stand against evil.

Today, thank God for loving you so much that He has allowed you to use temptation as a means of seeing, and thus overcoming, your sinfulness.