Perhaps the hardest part of being a Christian, is being Christian. In every situation, in every moment of our life, in every role we fit into, being and acting like a follower of Christ is our greatest struggle. When that clown on the freeway darted in front of you causing you to slam on your brakes, was your first thought one of peace and forgiveness, or was it anger and frustration? When your friends at work were ganging up on the employee that no one else really likes, was your first reaction to stand up for her or to join in? When your spouse made a mistake, were your first words ones of criticism and anger? In every situation we have the choice to either follow the voice of our sinful flesh and sin or follow the voice of our new person and resist sin.

     Temptation. It follows us around wherever we go. It comes from the outside of us through other people. It comes from inside of us from our sinful natures. And the worst thing about temptation is there is no escaping it. It is the constant pain that throbs throughout our bodies. And because it’s always there pulling and tugging at us we sometimes feel so helpless. We echo Luther’s words from his hymn “with might of ours can naught be done; Soon were our loss effected.”

     Temptation seizes us. But there is hope. Temptation seizes but God controls. If we are going to be successful in overcoming the constant barrage of temptation, then we must remember God’s promises. He has promised that he will never let you be overwhelmed by temptation and he has promised you the way out.

     Jesus taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation.” It is a prayer that God always answers with his promise to give us strength to overcome temptation and win the victory.