HOW TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION

 

HOW TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION

Hebrews 2:17-18 tells us that Jesus “had to become like his brothers in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people.  Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.”

Everyone who wants to obey God and do good will be tested, as was the Son of God.  In this testing, of whatever nature it might be, we are not alone.  Scripture affirms that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.  So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help” (Hebrews 4:15-16).

God does not abandon us when we are tempted.  In fact, we pray every day in the Lord’s Prayer, “lead us not into temptation.”  This passage can be properly translated from the original Greek of the Gospel as “do not allow us to enter into temptation” and “do not let us yield to temptation.”  According to St. James, “God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one” (1:13).  In this petition of the Our Father “We ask him not to allow us to take the way that leads to sin.  We are engaged in the battle ‘between flesh and spirit’; this petition implores the Spirit of discernment and strength” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #2846).   

We have to use good Christian judgment to avoid people, places and things that will tempt us to betray our faith and moral beliefs.  This is not always possible, and when it isn’t we must be on our guard.  Prayer is essential, not only in the moment of temptation, but as a daily habit.  Prayer builds our relationship with Christ and fortifies the spirit.  Without a vital life of prayer it will be impossible to overcome temptation.  Prayer is conversation with God and brings us into deeper fellowship with Christ.  Joined to our reading of the Scriptures, through which God speaks to us, prayer leads us to take on the mind of Christ.  We begin to see things as he sees them.  Jesus’ union with the Father in prayer gave him what he needed to resist the temptations of the devil in the wilderness.  Through his communion with the Father he knew who he was, and he knew he always wanted to please him, even when he felt weak and the devil tempted him to selfish acts.

We are body and spirit, and both need to be trained to overcome temptation.  Prayer lifts the spirit, but fasting will give us control over our body.  Self-control does not come naturally but must be won by repeated effort and discipline.  This is why fasting is so important in the Christian life.  It leads us to acquire mastery over our instincts and brings freedom to our heart.  By fasting we give up something good that we enjoy, usually for a short time.  We say “no” to our body out of love for a higher good.  This prepares us to say “no” when we are tempted to do something wrong.  Fasting can include not only food and drink, but other enjoyable activity, such as watching TV, listening to music, or sleeping late into the morning.  When we develop a habit of denying ourselves we fortify our character.  Like everything, of course, fasting must be done in moderation.  It should never have negative consequences to our health.  But without fasting, without a regular practice of self-denial, we will become flabby.  As an athlete must sacrifice to excel at a sport, so must we sacrifice to be victorious in the Spirit.

            Prayer, fasting and almsgiving will give us victory over temptation.  Almsgiving makes us generous, and generous people defeat temptation.  All temptation attempts to get us to commit a selfish act.  Giving until it hurts, as St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta used to counsel, will make us holy and less prone to giving in.  God rewards the good that we do in secret.  We are never alone when we face temptation, but have a Savior who himself defeated it, and will always give us what we need to remain in his love.