Straight talk here: Do you struggle with the weekend? I do. I always have. When I was in school or at work during the week, I could avoid a lot of Things I Shouldn’t Do. Even now, I am way too busy and driven during the week to step outside of where I know I should be, behavior-wise. And yet. When five o’clock on Friday rolls around it’s like Temptation wakes up, wipes the sleep out of its eyes and springs from bed, hollering “Let’s Party!” I think the weekends are especially hard for almost everyone struggling with temptation (and that’s everyone). There’s just more free time, more people around, and way more opportunity to do Things We Shouldn’t Do. Rich foods or alcohol, everywhere you turn. The mall, softly whispering your name and feeding you promises of “window shopping only,” even though your bank account has solidly told you not to go there. Or there are the people who beckon you to go to that place, drink that drink, be around that guy—whatever you know you shouldn’t do!—they come on stronger on the weekend. And maybe because we have worked hard at avoiding that very thing all week, we feel tougher than we should, and take Temptation’s hand. Or maybe we just are tired of fighting it, and we give in. Whatever the reason is, I’d like to give you one simple thing to do when you are tempted (this weekend, or whenever). Ask yourself this: “If I do this, how will I feel in 12 hours?” It’s powerful. Because it’s a long enough time period for you to imagine ‘sobering up’ after you’ve done wrong. To imagine the guilt you’ll feel over a wrong encounter with a guy. Or the reality of a bigger credit card bill that you can’t pay. Or to realize that you’ll be eating rabbit food for days if you overindulge. And it only takes a second to imagine all those scenarios, and make the right choice. From there, the situation may determine what you do. It may be immediate prayer for strength to say no. It may be a quick exit from wherever you are. It may be a change of plans and a call to an accountability partner. It may be all of the above! But asking that one question can be a huge motivator that can keep you from derailing all the progress you’ve made! The weekend is coming, and I hope this helps you prepare. Won’t it be great if THIS is the weekend that you hear Temptation’s gleeful call, kick it square in the face, and say “Not today, Satan. Not today.”? No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Let me know if this question helps you this weekend, or if it has helped you in the past. And for a GREAT lesson on temptation, click here.
xoxo, Lindsay
1 Comment
3/3/2017 08:06:22 pm
Everyone wants that they can enjoy the good weekend but lots of things come in their mind to settle up these things. Your experience of the weekend problems are goods and in the base of the reality. I enjoyed your whole article and give me sort of the pleasure.
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