The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar. Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven, and He overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
Genesis 19:23-26

My Dear Friends in Christ,

This was and is a hard lesson for me and it may be for you as well. In above scripture Lot is fleeing from Sodom with his family. After gaining an important position in the city, which included prominence and riches, Lot flees with little more then his family; the rest is destroyed in Sodom. Sodom represents sin in our lives and God asks us to flee from that sin (relationship, job, love of money, etc.), and if necessary, leaving everything behind. But this is not easy and we have a tendency to do what Lot’s wife did, look back. Unlike Lot’s wife we don’t turn into pillars of salt, but we end up as what April calls a sin-pillar. You see, as we flee from sin, our focus should always be on Jesus, and we should not let anything distract our attention. When we turn our eyes to look back at our sin we think, it wasn’t so bad, really. But, before we know it we’re no longer walking towards Jesus, but our direction is turned around and we’re back on the road to sin. The consequences of Lot’s wife’s sin were devastating to her, to Lot, to her children, and to her grandchildren and beyond; just as the consequences of our sin can be devastating to those around us.

For me, there is only one road to avoiding temptation. What is that road I take to avoid submitting to temptation? Let me show you the way:

Step 1, Prayer (1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."). This is VERY important for me and I pray in these steps:

a. Confession, Repentance, and Forgiveness. First I confess my sin to the Lord and seek with a heart of repentance His forgiveness. OK I’ll admit it, sometimes I love my sin more than Jesus, so I ask Jesus to help me hate my sin and the consequences it causes me to have in my relationship with Him.

b. Strength (1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."). I pray for strength to overcome temptation as it comes up. I review in my mind those steps that cause me to fall into sin and ask God to help me overcome the temptation. When I know an unavoidable situation will be very tempting I ask God to prepare me and help me through the situation. I also arm myself with the spiritual armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20). (Please Note: Temptation is NOT sin, but dwelling on or acting on temptation is sin.)

c. Pray Without Ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17, "pray without ceasing;"). Always be in prayer asking for Jesus to protect you (this is a weak area for me). Continual prayer also helps you to avoid complacency, which happens to me more than I care to admit. I will forget about a weakness I have then all of a sudden, WHAM!, I’m in sin. When I’m complacent, I can sprint with the best and be in sin in record time. However, when I continually pray to God in all situations, it is easier for me to avoid sin when temptation comes.

Step 2, Read His Word (Zechariah 1:13, "The LORD answered the angel who was speaking with me with gracious words, comforting words."). Just as the LORD talked to Zechariah through the angel, He talks to us through His Word. God’s Word can comfort you, strengthen you, and prepare you for all temptations that you may encounter.

Step 3, Fellowship (1 Cor 12:20, "But now there are many members, but one body."). In Corinthians God tells us we are to go to church and be part of a body to learn God’s Word and be built up by the pastor, to be strengthened by other believers. Also, if possible to attend Bible study classes to increase your understanding of God’s Word, and if possible do more than just attend (that is, rush in, listen to the sermon, and rush home), be an active participating member (take some time and encourage and edify other believers, participate in corporate prayer, help a ministry, etc.). Hang out with other believers. This is very important; if you hang out with unbelievers the only direction you can go is down. They don’t know any better, and soon, in their company, you will not either. While hanging out with believers you can encourage each other in your growth in the Lord and help each other overcome obstacles.

Step 4, Avoidance. This is a common sense thing, but very hard to do, which is; avoid any and all steps that cause you to sin. Is it the TV, then get rid of it. Is it credit cards, cut them up. Is it a certain kind of thought, then quench it when it comes. Be vicious, terminate anything and any road that leads you to sin: DO NOT COMPROMISE! You see, Lot’s wife compromised by looking back! I find there are an innumerable number of roads to my sin and when I compromise, I fail, no ifs ands or buts, I FAIL!

Step 5, Always Run Back to Jesus. When I fail, yes I do fail, run back as fast as you can to Jesus and go to Step 1 above. Don’t wallow in your sin when you know you’re there, yes I have been known to do this. Keep the pity party short, yes I have been known to have pity parties! Always strive to improve; I used to be in this stage anywhere from weeks to months at a time, I’m down to only a few minutes, sometimes hours, and occasionally days.

This is a mere beginning and there are other steps that can be added, but I pray that God encourages you to take the right steps to a relationship to Him. What an awesome year God has for us as He encourages us in everything we do. I pray every one of you is encouraged to grow closer and more on fire for the LORD everyday. May Jesus be constantly coming out of your mouth in praises, glorification of the LORD, and in regular conversation.

Blessings (Please note the new email address!),

john
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Encouragement From The Heart Website updated March 17, 2000.
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Scripture references (unless noted otherwise): The Open Bible, New American Standard
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