Training for Temptation: How to Stand Strong Before the Battle Begins
🍃 Hey friends! There have been moments in my life where temptation showed up and I just wasn’t ready. I thought I’d be strong enough in the moment, that I could handle it because I “knew better.”
But when it came, I crumbled. Not because I didn’t love Jesus, but because I hadn’t trained for it.
It’s kind of like expecting to run a marathon without ever lacing up your shoes. You don’t get in shape during the race, you prepare long before it starts.
The same goes for our spiritual lives. We don’t wait until the pressure’s on to figure out how to stand strong. We build strength in the quiet, everyday moments.
Time in prayer, worship, reading Scripture—it’s not a checklist, it’s fuel.
It’s like food for your soul that gets you ready for whatever might come. The enemy knows when we’re worn out and unprepared, but God, in His grace, has already made a way through it.
📖 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” - 1 Corinthians 10:13
🛠️ So let’s talk about what training actually looks like. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about being prepared.
Here are a few things that have helped me:
✅ Start the day with just one verse.
Let it stick with you, roll it around in your heart all day.
✅ Talk to God often, even about the small things.
The more honest you are, the closer you’ll feel.
✅ Turn on worship music when you’re driving or doing chores.
Let truth fill the quiet spaces.
✅ Don’t go it alone.
Invite a friend or mentor to pray with you, check in with you, and walk alongside you.
💡“We must learn to rely on the grace of God, and we must also learn to discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness.” – Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness
It’s both grace and training. God gives us strength, but we also build spiritual muscle by showing up every day.
🙏 Jesus, thank You for always being faithful. Help me train my heart every day, not out of pressure, but out of love for You. Give me strength when I feel weak and wisdom when I’m unsure. I want to walk closely with You. Amen.
— Ray Huff
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