Yes, every one of us is tempted. Especially Christians. We are prize trophies that Satan wants to capture and display for the world to see.      Why does God permit us to be tempted? We are now on a proving ground, working to be victorious over temptations. Adam and Eve failed the test. Our flesh is always seeking ways to get us to do things that displease God. The verse of a hymn says, “We'll understand it all by and by.”
      We are tempted to think about and want things that we should not want. Jesus' disciples were tempted. Jesus was tempted, but He never failed to resist temptation and we need to learn how to follow His example. We can learn. We will grow stronger each time we are victorious!
      Have you felt badly when you realized you had done something you should not have done? Your sin may have given you seconds or minutes of pleasure but then you suffered for many days until you were able to believe that God had forgiven you. Often you may have thought, I'll never do that again, but then once again you may have failed.
      The marvel is that God loves us so much that He wants to forgive us. He permitted His only Son to be brutally crucified in order to help us. We may suffer for our failures, but God hears and answers earnest prayers for forgiveness! He wants us to have the opportunity to become victorious.

     What can we learn to do that will help us resist temptations? Many things. We can learn Scriptures to quote to our tempter. Another weapon I love to use is to speak or sing praise to God. While we are doing this, Satan faces a weapon designed by God. We can say “Thank You God, I love You,” or “Thank You Jesus for being my Savior”, or “Thank You Holy Spirit for defeating the enemy.” Our words and song can go on and on until the enemy departs for a more opportune time (see Luke 4:13 NIV).
     As soon as any undesirable thought comes into your mind don’t just try to resist it. Go on the offensive! Immediately begin to think and say or sing praise words. Both the Old and New Testament contain hundreds of praise examples. Repeat them for as long as necessary. Don’t crunch up your face like you have tasted a lemon. Have a happy smile on your face! Learn to feel and act victorious.
      It is so-o-o-o important that we know we can be victorious. Jesus paved the way before us. He even won over the power of death! He won victory for us. So, let’s sing and laugh and rejoice in our victory over every temptation that comes to us.      Jesus is not just victorious for the strong people! When necessary He picks us up as if we were a little lamb and carries us next to His heart – if we trust Him to do this for us.