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How to overcome temptations?



Recently, I have been tempted to buy lottery tickets. Almost every day, I have thoughts of winning the lottery, helping others especially my family and going around the world. Then, after buying the lottery ticket, I felt guilty so I checked the Bible if buying lottery tickets is a sin. And here is what I found out in 1 Timothy 6:9-11, “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.” 

So, having read that verse I learned that desiring to be rich is a sin because it is said in verse 9 that those who want to get rich fall into temptation. This simply means that if you want to be rich you fall into temptation and we know that falling into or giving in to temptation is a sin. It is also said in verse 11 that we should flee from the desire of getting rich. Remember it is said in Matthew 6:24, "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” So, if your main purpose and your focus are to be rich, you love money already and not GOD. And if you don’t love GOD, you are separated from Him and you commit sin. Because loving GOD is the first and greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37). If we don’t love and serve Him first, we have sinned already. And if we sin, we become guilty and unhappy. Sin steals our joy and separates us from the love of CHRIST. So, it is really important to obey. Money cannot buy us happiness.

Since I have discovered and JESUS revealed to me that desiring to be rich is a sin, every time I have thoughts of becoming rich, I tried to suppress or control my desire and thoughts. But still, I find it hard to control my desire. Then, one day, I was tempted, I have the desire to buy lottery tickets again. So, I tried to pray to JESUS that He would help me not to give in to the temptation and don’t buy lottery tickets again and guess what, JESUS answered my prayer! Yes, He did. He removed my desire to be rich and He guided me to the right path, the path of righteousness. So, now I know the secret to overcoming temptations. We just have to pray to JESUS. Before we start our day, we need to pray that JESUS will keep us away from temptations and that He will guard our hearts and minds so that we will not commit any sin. 

In conclusion, when tempted, pray. Always remember this verse in Matthew 26:41 which says, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” We should also read our Bible every night and day so that we will be guided and we will have knowledge of the things that JESUS wants us to do and the things we should avoid. I love you with the love of JESUS! May you’ll be blessed with peace, joy, good health, and love. 

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