And you shall know the truth. And the truth will set you free

According to a survey Christians are struggling to deal with their greatest temptation which is materialism. After materialism, followed pride, self-center-ness, laziness, anger, lust, envy, gluttony and finally lying. The survey also noted that temptations were frequent and more forceful when they had neglected their time with God and when they were physically tired.They stated that the ability to resist temptation was made easier by a strong spiritual life, avoiding compromising situations and being accountable to someone.

Many Christians know its a sin to give into temptation but nevertheless don't feel any need to feel guilty or remorseful. Yes, Temptation will always be a part of our lives. No matter our age or the circumstances of our lives, temptation will be something that we have to deal with until the end of our journey here on earth but that doesn't mean we can give in to temptation as we please. Remember BEING TEMPTED is NOT a sin but GIVING INTO TEMPTATION IS!

Most temptations are caused by our fallen human nature. As we saw last Sunday, original sin has wounded our human nature. We simply do not have complete control over our mind, memory, imagination, will, passions and emotions. We will always struggle with something. It can also be the fact that our friend below is DETERMINE to separate us from God and lead us to eternal damnation.

Sometimes we might be tempted to be lazy and sleep in, rather than go to school. Sometimes we might be tempted to gossip. Sometimes we might be tempted to be impatient. Sometimes we might be tempted to be unchaste. Sometimes we might even be tempted to take something that does not belong to us.

Satan is the Father of Lies(John 8:42:44) and one of his oldest but most effective lie is making people believe that he doesn't exist but I tell you honestly the devil, Satan is very much real and I urge you to Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.(1 Peter 5:8)

As the holy season of Lent begins, last Sunday's liturgy reminds us that we are engaged in a daily and dramatic battle between Christ and Satan, between good and evil. What is at stake in this battle is our eternal salvation. Satan will do all that he can do separate us from Christ.

Prayer, daily Mass, filial devotion to our Lady, the reading of the Sacred Scriptures, adoration and the frequent reception of Confession are the proven remedies for temptation. Lent provides us with a special time of grace to examine our conscience and remove those things that are holding us back from a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ or may in fact be an obstacle to our eternal salvation.

Nobody said it was going to be easy when you said "Yes" to God. We bought into the lie that once we became Christian we would have it easy. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see this : Jesus the SON OF GOD was betrayed, insulted, abandoned, scourge, whipped and ultimately crucified. If the Son of God was treated that way, what makes you think you are excepted from all these in one way or another? You think Jesus wanted to go through this? Matthew 26:39 "He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." He did NOT want to go through this BUT look at the last part of the sentence "Yet I want your will to be done not mine". He wanted to do the Father's will no matter what,why? Cause it's the right thing to do. The father rewarded the faith and obedience of Jesus by raising Him up on the 3rd day and NOW He is sitting at the right hand of the Father for eternity in the throne of Heaven being worship by people all around the world.

Can we win over temptation?Can we follow God's will no matter how hard it is? Yes we can.How? God alone is enough.

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things THROUGH Christ which strengthens me"