The beginning of all evil temptations is inconstancy of mind and insufficient trust in God. Just as as a ship without a rudder is tossed about with every storm, so the man who is negligent and abandons his good resolution is tempted in diverse ways. Gold is tried by fire and the upright man by temptation. Often we do not know what we can do until tempation shows us what we are.
In the early stages of temptation it is necessary to be watchful, for it is easier to overcome the enemy if he is not allowed to enter into your mind, but is resisted and shut out as soon as he knocks. As someone has said: "Resist the beginning; the cure applied afterwards is too late."
This is how tempation is: first we have a thought, followed by strong imaginings, then the pleasure and evil motions, and finally consent. This is how the enemy gains full admittance, because he was not resisted at the outset. The slower we are to resist, the weaker we daily become and the stonger the enemy is against us.
1 comment:
You won't have to be delivered from anything you cast down. We are to cast down all that is not in line with the Word of God and His nature.
Dr. Armada
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