Severe Temptations

God lives and works today. That is a fact which most of us can see. All we have to do is open our eyes and look around.

But let's face it, times do come when we can't see, times of severe temptations. Today's meditation by Basil E. Schlink gives some practical advice for just such times. All of us must pass through times of temptations which sometimes last for days or weeks.

Doubts concerning our faith torture us. We begin to doubt whether God said or meant a certain thing. We doubt whether we are on the right road.

We doubt whether God really lives, whether He is love. Verses from the Bible often help me overcome such temptations. I pronounce the pledges of the Lord.

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Psalm 23, 3. Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself. Psalm 4, 3. The Father Himself loves you.

John 16, 27. Everything in our life, all the ways that we go, have been planned by God. If we have made a decision to go a certain way after asking Him in prayer to lead us along the correct path, we should remain steadfast in it.

If later doubts and misgivings seek to plague us, we can assert, God is a Father. If His child has asked Him to lead him along the correct path, He cannot lead him along the wrong way. Therefore, I must be going the right way.

If I think that I understand God differently now than I did when I made the decision, then I can come to Him anew and lay the question before Him, and He will answer. He will answer either through inner certainty or through the people with whom we discuss the matter, if I ask Him to give these people the right words. However, if I have to fear that my own will is still so strong that I cannot differentiate between God's will and my own, I can ask Him to let me recognize my own will, and God will answer that prayer.

But it often happens that we come into temptation and wonder whether it is the right way, simply because it is too difficult for us. At such times, Satan has found a spot where he can attack us, that is, the spot which is too difficult for us. By rebelling even unconsciously, our reaction is, perhaps this really isn't the right way for me.

These thoughts begin to torture us. The more we look at the difficulties with fear, the worse the temptation becomes. In such times of temptations, it is important to remember what Jesus said in His great hour of temptation in Gethsemane.

It is up to us to say the same, clearly and definitely. Yes, Father, not as I will, but as Thou wilt. Such Yes, Father prayers are more precious to Him than a thousand other prayers, because our whole life, yes, often a sacrifice of life, stands behind them.

He repays such Yes prayers like no other prayer. He answers it with overflowing blessing and fullness of grace. Yes, O Father, I can trust Thee, who dost help and deal so justly, firmly planned with Thy sure aid.

So I thank Thee now already, for Thy promise sure and steady cannot fail to come to pass. You have been listening to a program written by Basileus Schlenk of the Little Land of Canaan. To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website, www.canaan.org. If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet.

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