Barbie Loflin

Sometimes it’s so hard to do what you know you should do – especially when it comes to your body and your health.You might walk past a bakery, and suddenly all your good intentions are defeated by the aroma of butter cream frosting.I’m quite sure I have startled a few bakers with my sudden and desperate entrance into their domain.My fingerprints (and a few drool spots) can be found on glass display counters across the Southeast.Fortunately, you can also find skid marks outside a few of those same establishments, as I made my hasty exit.You see, I knew if I allowed myself to linger in the presence of temptation I would soon have powdered sugar on my lips, a dreamy look in my eyes, and a popped button or two.

Temptation will always come at us, but we must learn to actually tell ourselves no.Believe it or not, it can be just that easy. We really don’t need all of the things we think we need.If children are given whatever they want, whenever they want it they become spoiled and demanding. The same is true of us.If we expect our every desire to be met, if we allow ourselves to think that we must have whatever we want – that we somehow deserve it – it shows up in our attitudes and sometimes our waistlines.We are very spoiled. Not good.

Ah, but what good God we have.Listen to what He tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 – The only temptation that has come to you is that which everyone has. But you can trust God, who will not permit you to be tempted more than you can stand. But when you are tempted, he will also give you a way to escape so that you will be able to stand it.

He is the One Who makes it possible for me to leave those tennis shoe tracks outside the walls of my greatest temptations.God always gives us a way out.

Whatever your temptation, food, drugs, alcohol, pornography, laziness, lying, apathy… God leaves an open door for you to come out.  My advice?Keep a good pair of sneakers on hand!