Yesterday I was meditating on 1 Corinthians 10:13, which promises:
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
Here are some truths revealed in this scripture to help you if you are struggling with temptation right now:
1. Temptation is common.
2. You don’t face a temptation that someone else hasn’t been through already.
3. God is faithful and knows how much temptation you can bear.
4. He doesn’t let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
5. God always provides a way of escape with the temptation so that you can bear it.
While God himself doesn’t tempt us (James 1:13), He does allow it. But He does not put us in “no win” situations.
One of God’s names is “Jehovah-Jireh,” which means, “His provision is seen.”
In the case of temptation, this scripture says that God’s provision is an escape route so that we can bear temptation.
Did you know that?
Here are some issues I’ve experienced with temptation’s escape route.
- I did not know there was an escape route at first. Because I wasn’t familiar with the scripture, I also felt that I was at the mercy of temptation.
- Next, I did not believe there was an escape route, even though I saw the scripture. So I didn’t bother to look for the escape route when I was tempted.
- After I finally believed there was an escape route, I sometimes did not ask God to show it to me because deep down, I wanted to give in to the temptation.
Actually, that last point was the one I dealt with the most!
By providing an escape route with every temptation, God is giving us an opportunity to know Him as faithful.
When we take the escape route, its also our opportunity to know Him as our Jehovah-Jireh.
So while we don’t seek temptation, we can train ourselves to ask the Lord, “Where is the escape route?” when temptations come.
These are the steps you should expect when you are using the escape route:
- “This is the part where temptation comes.”
- “This is the part where I ask God, ‘Where is the escape route you’ve provided?’ God speaks to me in His “still, small voice.”
- “This is the part where God reveals the escape route.”
- “This is the part where I take that escape route and thank God for His faithfulness.”
- “This is the part where my body complains (may be through getting tense, heartbeat gets faster, mild headache) because I told it ‘No.'”
- “This is the part where I re-direct my thoughts to something else and occupy my body with a useful activity.”
- “This is the part where my body relaxes and moves on to something else.”
Many people don’t take the escape route because they don’t want to have to deal with #5.
The body can be like a spoiled child.
In order for your body to be well, you must provide discipline (a path of instruction) for it.
In most cases, the tension dissipates in 10 minutes or less. So if you must, set a timer for 10 minutes and occupy your mind and body with something else.
Remember, the escape route is just as real and present as the temptation itself is. We just have to seek it, see it, and take it!
Be blessed with health, healing, and wholeness,
Kimberly Taylor
Author/Christian Life Coach of the Take Back Your Temple program
P.S. When it comes to weight loss, do you often know what you should do but have a hard time doing it?
I struggled with this issue on my own weight loss journey, but I discovered that “Nothing is different until you think differently.”
The value of the Take Back Your Temple program is that you will learn how to think differently through using Biblical keys to overcome obstacles. You’ll discover how to win the Spiritual and mental battle that often causes us to become inconsistent and get off-track on our weight loss journey.
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“What’s the escape route?”❤️
Yesterday a house we’ve had under our care for a few years was broke into and a few things broken. It was traumatic and shocking. Sure enough both my husband & myself went to the frig!!
He has no food issues really but that’s where we both found comfort so we could talk about a plan to take care of this break in. .
It would have been so much better, and a bigger hit to the enemy if we would have found our escape plan (from eating) and listened to God for directions.
Great subject today. Thank you Kimberly!
You are welcome, Diane! I am so sorry about the break-in. I know how devastating it can be and a blow to feelings of safety and security. Food is so easy to turn to during times of distress so it’s understandable that it happened. Praise God that He gives us better ways to handle stress and find our comfort, peace, and security in Him as we recover from loss. All praise to Him!
In reference to making a decision not to give in to the temptation of eating something I know is not good for me, you wrote to another lady…You can also choose to make a different decision about training your “child.” Your child may complain about it, but sometimes parents have to make hard decisions for the good of the child, if they love them 🙂 And here is the “rub” for me. I really do NOT love myself at all. I can’t seem to forgive myself for things I’ve done in the past. Perhaps that is why I continue to mistreat myself by eating the wrong things and then gaining weight…which sends me into the pit of depression.
Hi Sharon – Sounds like you hit the nail on the head! Satan is not called “the accuser of the brethren” for nothing! God is about restoration, not condemnation. His word says in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Jesus’ blood was strong enough to cleanse all our sins. Since He has forgiven you, what right do you have to keep reminding yourself of it? To experience freedom, please remind yourself “I’m forgiven” whenever the enemy tries to bring it up. You don’t live there anymore.
Check out this article as well to renew your mind. God loves you as His precious daughter: Receive the blessing that is waiting on you.
That reminder about my body being a spoiled child did it for me! I am quick to turn my nose up at a toddler tantrum and place blame on the mother. Wow. I am a hypocrite!
Thank you so much Kimberly for the inspiration and the time you take to share with us!
You are welcome, Charlotte – I felt the same way when God showed me the analogy as well. It’s amazing that the very things we disapprove in others, we tolerate in ourselves!
I praise God for you on this day… This was my devotion scripture..and then I read your article.. I fealt as if God was personally speaking to me through you. This have been life changing for me..
Blessing upon you and your family…
Thanks… Thanks…and Thanks
I receive that blessing, Pat – God has a way of giving us just what we need at the right time.
I wrote this down!
I am glad because in remembering to do what we know is where change happens.
Hi Kimberly,
Brilliant information, it has really opened my eyes and I amso grateful that you have taken the time out to fully explain it to us. God bless you
You are welcome, Angela – nobody teaches like the Lord. I just write down what He shows me 🙂
Thank you Kimberly. Your emails are such an encouragement to me. God bless you
I am so glad to hear that, Susi – we all need encouragement on this journey we are on!
Well, I was in temptation’s trap last night…pretty much the same drill as always… I am numb and unconscious just seeking anything to eat. And I did and had physical issues to deal with like always. Thank you for outlining the steps to recognize what is going on. Never had that before. I’m looking forward to disciplining the child within me. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing that tension dissipates after 10 minutes. I didn’t know that.
To my shame, I’ve read that verse many a time; trying to use it as my escape route. I don’t think I ever broke it into such usable pieces as what you’ve done above, Kimberly. Thank you! I can use this with food and other areas of my life which pose temptation.
Kimberly, your messages absolutely amaze me! Just when I think there could not be anything more informative you always come through with a message that helps to give me fresh perspective. I can truly relate to this message in a big way! Number 5 is the absolute worst and is the very thing that I struggle with the hardest 🙁 You mentioning that our flesh is like a spoiled child is the absolute truth through and through. I have said that very thing before that it reminds me of a screaming 2 year old that is rolling around on the ground, throwing a fit because she wants what she wants and finally the weak parent gives in and gives it to her to shut her up because the struggle is so painful. Rewarding the bad behavior makes it harder and harder to resist the temptation each and every time. Thank you so much for taking the time to give us scripture and wisdom that speaks to our very soul.
Kimberly, thank you once again for your on time message. I fill as if there is no escape route for me. I know that is a lie that satan wants me to believe. I also realize that I am that spoiled child that gives my flesh what it wants even when it is no good for my body.
Hi Irene – I am glad that you believe God’s word because the escape route is there 🙂 You can also choose to make a different decision about training your “child.” Your child may complain about it, but sometimes parents have to make hard decisions for the good of the child, if they love them 🙂
I have been reading an interesting book that talks about this…. Stop the Devil from laughing when you diet…. some good bullets in the spiritual battle to overcome the whiles of the devil against us!!
Ceci – yes, our enemy is shrewd! But through Jesus, we have the victory 🙂
Always a timely message for me…….thank you so much, you are a blessing to so many I am sure of it…
You are welcome, Patricia – all glory to our Father!
Amen Kimberly! All of that is so true. There are many times I see the escape route but choose not to take it, but then only to have the consequences get more and more severe. Because God loves me and wants me to choose the right path, he is allowing it to be worse and worse each time. I gave in yesterday to a temptation to eat ice cream at someone’s house, then when I came home my attitude was so bad toward my family… Thank you Lord for taking the fun out of my sin and disobedience. Lord help me to see the joy of turning to you and in taking those escape routes!!!
Hi Lorraine – thanks for writing! Please don’t let this experience go to waste. Write down what happened, how you feel, and then seek the Lord as to what escape route He provided and write that down too. Because you know this temptation will come around again and next time, you want to be ready for it. God bless you!