Whoever endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 10:22)
For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope. When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. (Jeremiah 29:11-12)
I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)
What is expressed in the true proverb has happened to them, “The dog returns to its own vomit,” and “A bathed sow returns to wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:22)
We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. (Philippians 4:13)
My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
All of us are well aware that as long as we live in this fallen and darkened world, we will be constantly bombarded by temptations. In spite of this, there are times when life is a joyful sprint, when you sense the wind of the Spirit propelling you along. But there are other times when it feels like a hard slog down a barren, endless road, battling one temptation after another.
We are all familiar with temptation. We know when we’re being tempted to lust, envy, anger, or greed. But temptations can come in many other forms. You may well feel worn and weary by temptations if you’re unemployed, deployed, disabled, caregiving, working two jobs to make ends meet, or struggling to repair a broken relationship. Of course, the biggest temptation in the midst of all of these is to doubt God the Father’s goodness and his promises.
Are you struggling to overcome a temptation? Are you feeling worn and weary? Let me give you a few suggestions that can help you stay the course when you don’t know if you can make it through the next hour, let alone “endure to the end” (Matthew 10:22).
- First of all, never doubt that you have a loving and merciful Father in heaven who has really forgiven your sins through the cross of his Son, Jesus. Never doubt that he wants to and has the power to fulfill his plans for your life, which is “for your welfare not for woe” (Jeremiah 29:11). Never doubt his willingness to bless you, and that he has the power to do so. Never doubt that when you turn to him in prayer, he will “listen to you” (29:12), and he will give you a strength that is greater than the temptation.
- Second—a saying well-known to members of Alcoholics Anonymous: Just do the next right thing. Don’t let the size and scope of the temptation leave you overwhelmed and paralyzed. Just look at the present moment and what you can do in it to overcome the temptation. “Do not worry about tomorrow,” Jesus says. Don’t get anxious over how you’ll deal with this or future temptations. “Tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil” (Matthew 6:34).
- Third — procrastinators will like this one: Put off till later the evil that you can do right now. Tempted to fritter away your work or study time playing video games or surfing the Web or watching some garbage” on TV? Just tell yourself that you’ll play or surf or watch it later. Then when “later” comes, repeat the process. Do you feel like giving in to self-pity or an angry tirade? Put it off, and give yourself a chance to accept the grace to put it off again. Make procrastination your friend, and use it as a tool for persevering toward the good.
- Fourth – Have a few memorized Scripture verses available to bring to mind when you are tempted. The Word of God is called the Sword of the Spirit, so let’s use it as a weapon against temptation. Every morning when I get up, I pray Romans 12:1-2; “Dear Lord, I offer my body to you as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to you. I ask for the grace to not conform to this world, but to be transformed by the renewal of my mind.” I will also say these prayers when I am tempted during the day. Another Scripture I use is from 2 Peter 2:22: “The dog returns to its own vomit,” and “A bathed sow returns to wallowing in the mire.” I then pray: Lord, let this not be so for me by the power of your cross, your name, and your Holy Spirit. Other great Scriptures are Romans 8:28 and Philippians 4:13 and 4:19.
One last thing. Rejoice! Your heavenly Father, who wants you with him for all eternity, will pour out his Spirit to help you through every endurance test. “You will be given at that moment what you are to say,” Jesus promises (Matthew 10:19)— and what you are to do. Step by step, the Lord will help you to “persevere in running the race” (Hebrews 12:1). Then one day you too will say as St. Paul did: “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).
“Father, fill me afresh with your Holy Spirit and sustain in me a willing spirit to overcome any temptations that come from the world, my flesh, or the devil. Lord Jesus come to my aid in every moment of this day, and every day, so I may “endure to the end.”
Many thanks to The Word Among Us (www.wau.org [1]) for allowing me to adapt meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.
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Questions for Reflection/Discussion
1. Take some time to meditate and reflect on the Scriptures at the beginning of the article. What do you think God is trying to reveal to you through them?
2. The article begins by reminding us that there are times in our lives when we feel we are constantly battling temptations, and other times when “life is a joyful sprint.” How would you characterize your life right now?
3. The article goes on to describe many kinds of temptations. Some are obviously sinful temptations, but others are not, yet they can make us feel “worn and weary.” What kinds of temptations are you experiencing now?
4. Why do you think the article states that the biggest temptation we can face is “to doubt God the Father’s goodness and his promises”?
5. The article provides four suggested ways of overcoming temptations. Are you currently using any of these? Which ones? Are you willing to experiment with the others? Why or why not?
6. The article ends with these words: “Step by step, the Lord will help you to persevere in running the race (Hebrews 12:1). Then one day you too will say as St. Paul did: I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7)” How important is it to you, at the end of your life, to be able to say these words of St. Paul? Why?
7. Take some time now to pray for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit, and for the graces and power you need to win the battle against sinful temptations and those that can weaken your faith. Use the prayer at the end of the article as the starting point.
“Father, fill me afresh with your Holy Spirit and sustain in me a willing spirit to overcome any temptations that come from the world, my flesh, or the devil. Lord Jesus come to my aid in every moment of this day, and every day, so I may “endure to the end.”