Giving in to temptation is a decision. I don’t control when or how temptation arrives, but I do control what I do about it. I have a choice. I can choose to give in or not to give in.

It may not feel like much of a choice. It may feel more like a need, but by definition a temptation is not something I need, it’s something I want but am wary of for some reason. I’m not tempted to breathe; I must breathe to live and do so willingly, without shame. However, telling a juicy secret about someone may tempt me.

That moment of decision seems very small. Tiny, in fact. Like a flimsy little barrier that I’m holding up with one hand while piling on excuses and rationalizations with the other. The wall strains, but holds. Until suddenly, I simply take my holding hand away. I’ve decided to give in. I want to blame the piling-on hand or external forces, but the fault lies in my decision to remove my barrier-holding hand.

“No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭13,‬ ‭CSB)‬‬

It may not feel like it, but my barrier-holding hand is strong enough. It’s strong enough because God is helping me hold it. He guarantees that I am strong enough to withstand any temptation that comes my way.

But the decision still lies with me. Even with God helping me hold my barrier against temptation, I can choose to remove it. I can choose to give in. He allows my freedom to choose, even when my choices are self-destructive or hurtful, even when He knows the pain it will cause.

I want to choose well today.

Dear God,

Thank you for providing the means to withstand all the temptations to do evil that come my way, either from within or without. Teach me to trust your power and to keep choosing to fight. Please forgive me when I decide to fail. I want to choose righteousness.