James 1:15 Temptation Birth Control

James 1:15 “Then, after (our own evil) desire (lust) has conceived, it gives birth to sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

            My dear Lord, You know there have been lots of times in my life when I have been tempted and have succumbed to that temptation.  Much of the temptation I face is in the area of eating more than I should or things I should not.  I usually have a conversation with myself about it much like how they show in the media sometimes; the devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other.

            If I immediately remove the item of temptation from my reach and sight, or remove myself from the source of the temptation right away, I can resist.  However; if, for example, there is chocolate candy on my desk or baked goods in plain sight in the kitchen at home and I do not either give away, or throw away, the candy or hide the baked goods from plain sight and get out of the kitchen and get busy doing something else; I am in danger of succumbing to the temptation… “lust” will conceive.

            I know this may seem like a silly example, but the principle is the same.  If the lust for things were my weakness, having cash in my wallet, or carrying my credit card would be as dangerous as leaving the candy bar on my desk.  I would probably buy things I didn’t need (and have done this by buying candy at the dollar store) because I would not have to be accountable for showing the receipt to Dick so he could put it in the checkbook.

            What I am saying here, Lord, is that temptation can be resisted and I have absolutely NO excuse for succumbing to it. You showed us while You were here that it can be resisted by using Your Word.  For us Christians, You have provided us with the Holy Spirit to urge us to resist and guide us to turn away if we will allow Him. If we would only turn away immediately…(change our location, walk away from, or never go, to the dessert table, or remove the source of the temptation, temptation would never be conceived.  If we would turn to You and Your Word and obey You, You will provide “Temptation Birth Control!