James 1 : 13-15 - Is Temptation a good or a bad thing?

"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."

Image Source

Temptation is lured by what we want and not what we need. It is caused by our thoughts thinking we need something we don't. But when we do it, we tell ourselves it's to late and do it anyway, and afterwards feel bad about it. But that does not stop us from doing it again. 

Sometimes we take a second to contemplate if what that thing we are doing is bad, but we do not try to fight and stop it. We as people can't have God whilst having our sinful desires.

Matthew 6 : 24

 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." 

When temptation is starting to come to our way, we should run. Not run away, but start to fight it. We do not need that urge of desire to sin in our lives. 

By fighting the temptation, we need to pray. We need to ask God to help us through the tough times, because we cannot face it alone. The times do not get easier, we get older and face new things, and sometimes we face it alone. We need God, we need Him to guide us. He is by our sides and we know that, but we sometimes think we are better than everyone.

 It's even better to get help sometimes. It helps to mingle with people that went through the same phase as you, and listen to what their methods are. It will help, and make you a better person while it shows you that you are not alone.

But to do everything, it starts by yourself, you control your mind. The battle is actually between you and yourself alone. Nobody can make choices for you, for you are your own person. Your mind is much more powerful than you think, and it all starts there. When you think of it, try and think of something else, happy stuff, sinless stuff.

The Bible says in James 1 : 12

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.

Fight it. Live your life, and Pray before you think of temptation. Your mind will and can conquer much more!

Image Source