finally overcoming temptation?

I don’t know about you, but I face temptation daily. Sometimes I overcome it, and other times I fall into the temptation and sin. There is no way to get rid of temptation completely, but God always promises us a way out of temptation:

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The awesome thing is, God uses temptation to transform us and develop us:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4).

However, what practical things can we do to develop self-control in order to overcome temptation when it hits us? This is the question I asked myself while reading Kenneson’s Life on the Vine, and here’s my answer.

Based on the fact that all the listed fruit of the Spirit seem to be other-directed toward God and neighbour except “self-control,” Kenneson presents a strong case that Paul is not referring to self-control in the way that one traditionally defines it as focusing on mastering our own self and desires. Instead, if we are truly embodying the fruit of the Spirit, then we cannot remain as the focus of our own life.

As a result, we’ll grow in self-control not when we focus on harnessing our own desires, but when we seek to serve and love God and our neighbours (Chapter 10, Location 2859-64). In other words, it is when we become other focused, that our “self” becomes focused. Self-control is developed in our lives as a “natural byproduct of the Spirit’s work in our lives,” since our “self” must be displaced in order for the other eight fruit to survive (Chapter 10, Location 2929-41).

Therefore, in order to grow in self-control, we need to focus on developing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness in our own lives. In addition to this, fasting is also a beneficial way to move the focus off of our own “self” and onto God and one’s neighbours (Chapter 10, Location 2985-2991). When we fast, we will be confronted with the necessary trials that we need to overcome in order to grow not only in self-control, but also in the other eight fruit of the Spirit.

What are your thoughts?