Key scripture-“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat[a] of it you shall surely die.’…Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God actually say, ‘You[a] shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 2:16-17, 3:1).

Did you know that temptation challenges God’s Word?

Temptation can come from Satan, or from the secular world around you, or from your own inner sinful nature. But no matter where temptation comes from, it always has one thing in common – it challenges God’s Word.

Temptation attempts to take our focus off God and get it onto something else. For Eve, that something else was the delicious-looking fruit. “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:1-6). For you it will be something else.

If you allow yourself to become fixated with the temptation, your attention will be taken away from God and His Word. You’ll find yourself walking down a path that leads away from God.

Don’t be like those that Jesus talked about who are on rocky soil who fall away from the Word of God when temptation comes. “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God… Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.”(Luke 8:11, 13).

Today, when you notice something stealing the focus in your life away from God, whether it’s a form of entertainment, an ungodly action or thoughts, pornography, alcohol, drugs, or something else, God wants you to turn and walk away from it, put your focus back on God and His Word, and He will rescue you from the temptation by providing a way of escape. “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, give me the wisdom to hear the Holy Spirit directing me and leading me in the way that I should go and the strength to turn from the temptations before me. Give me the wisdom to follow the Word when I hear it like Isaiah told us, “Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21). When I am faced with temptation give me the strength and wisdom to take those thoughts captive and put them under the obedience of Jesus and replace them with Your Word. Lead me and guide me so that I do not turn to the right or the left but I stay on the path of righteousness. I know that You are faithful and that You will lead me through this valley of the shadow of death, You will give me the ability to endure it, and show me the way of escape from it. Thank You for Your Faithfulness, for rescuing me, and leading me away from temptation. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.