Stephen Anthony Ray

Lately, some events in my life have led me to some conclusions about Satan and his clever tactics that have apparently escaped my detection before. You see, in temptation, Satan’s victory isn’t really isn’t in sin. Sin is pretty much just the manifestation of his victory. His real victory comes in the fact that he, through temptation, distracts us from where our focus should be - God. You see, if he can get us to focus on anything but God, the rest is cake - because at that point, we have lost connection with the only thing able to save us. That’s what temptation is all about. If that snake can divert or distract our focus, he can do anything he wants from there (including stop the temptation and allow you to win, causing you to be confused about what methods actually work when it comes to defeating him - something he’ll use at a later, more strategic time to defeat you, seeing as you’ll be fighting with faulty weaponry). We lose our focus: how can I beat this sin? is this so bad? what’s causing this temptation? why is God letting this happen to me? These questions and others are good, necessary questions. But if we fight with them alone, then the battle has been lost before it has even begun.

In the midst of temptation, immediately renew your focus. Don’t be shaken. Don’t get frustrated. Don’t get logical or analytical. Don’t ponder on the effect of the sin (beginning of rationalization). All such things, by themselves, are distractions. Rather, as soon as you realize you are being tempted, renew your focus on the Lord. Then, through Him, launch your attack.

SRay