The enemy is not only tempting people to sin in ways like drugs, sex and alcohol, he’s tempting by using things like gossip, slander, malice, putting “it’s their fault” ideas in your head… eating and overeating.

Temptation is there luring you to get mad, frustrated, overwhelmed, and get into your flesh response. Temptation is to take the problem into your own hands and do what you feel like is the best thing based off how you feel. Tell them, retaliate, go get some food to give yourself your own dopamine boost… go shopping, retail therapy…

Are we taking the bait? Do we even recognize it because life is SO fast?

We have thoughts, God gives us thoughts, and so does the enemy. It’s just the truth.

God does not tempt man with sin (see verse).

So if you’re wanting to sin, or do what the Bible calls sin, then that’s an unholy spirit, or just forces of your flesh habits that are so engrained it just happens on its own now.

Temptation is what the devil uses to get you out of walking in the spirit, and in the flesh to wreak havoc on your testimony and other people. 

We have to recognize this. 

He’s a liar.

He’s tricky. 

It’s never about other people. It’s always the powers and principalities of the air behind the behavior of that person and what they are allowing. 

Remember, there’s only two kingdoms and one is always advancing. 

This flesh category isn’t a free for all zone. 

The flesh category was trained by the devil and your sin nature. Now you have to retrain it with God’s word.

Temptation is not only things like drugs, alcohol, pornography, but just as detrimental are temptations to gossip, overeat, expel malice, slander, anger, wrath…

The same devil that tempts the adulterer, tempts the gossip. And they are equally destructive.

So how do we conquer it?

I hear someone saying, “only God can do that…” my response would be well, you’re right, but you’re also wrong.

God helps us to overcome by His Spirit, but we must cooperate. There comes a time where “I’m waiting for God to change me” has been going on so long, that we must ask ourselves about it.

God is not late, and it is not His will that you continue that behavior or that hold still remains in your soul…

So what else could there be?

It’s us, friend.

We have to step in.

Pull our boots up and go. Choose to do your part.

Choose that this is the day this stops. You don’t have to wait until crisis. You can decide today. No more.

Choose today to talk to God about jealousy. About hatred, about slander. Tell Him what you’ve been doing, saying. He already knows but He wants to hear it from you, do you recognize it as wrong? Tell Him you know He can change you, ask Him to change you.

Then stop slandering. Control yourself. You’ve got that ability in you.

First it will be hard, you may say too much before your heart hears His highlight, but the more you practice with Him, and seek to know His heart for those we slander, the easier it becomes.

Then you can grow to keep your mouth shut completely, then you can grab the thought before it has time to plant in your soul and produce, and replace it with Gods love for them. Pray for them then, instead.

God does the work, God gives the strength, the finished work of Jesus enabled the power of the Holy Ghost to work in us and be with us and empower us to change.

But we have to cooperate.

James 1:12-18:

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/jas.1.12-18.NKJV