25-336 — Fleeing Temptation

Today we’re stepping into a topic that every believer faces, no matter how long you’ve walked with God. Temptation is not a sign of weakness — it’s a sign that there’s a battle over your destiny. And Brother, let me tell you: the enemy doesn’t tempt you in the areas you don’t care about. He hits you where the impact will be greatest. He hits where you’re vulnerable, where you’re tired, where you’re lonely, where your guard is down.But here’s the thing we forget:Temptation isn’t something you reason with. It’s something you run from.You don’t negotiate with darkness.You don’t debate your flesh.You don’t see how close you can get to the edge.The Bible doesn’t say “stand firm against temptation.”It says flee it.Let’s go deeper.📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:1 Corinthians 6:18 (ESV)“Flee from sexual immorality…”When Paul says “flee,” he’s not exaggerating. He’s giving a life-saving command. Temptation grows in the presence of proximity. It feeds on closeness. It multiplies when you flirt with the boundary.God never intended for you to stand toe-to-toe with temptation and try to impress Him with your willpower. Temptation is not defeated by pride — it’s defeated by distance. Joseph didn’t stay and pray about it when Potiphar’s wife grabbed him — he ran out of the house so fast he left his cloak behind. Running doesn’t make you weak. Running means you understand the battlefield.And if we’re honest, many of the temptations we fall into didn’t start with a sudden moment of weakness — they started with slow compromises. Lingering in conversations we had no business in. Staying entertained by something we should have shut off. Keeping a door cracked that God told us to close.Temptation always looks manageable at the beginning.But it always costs more than it promises.God’s call to flee temptation isn’t Him restricting you — it’s Him protecting you. It’s Him pulling you away from traps the enemy designed with your name on them. It’s Him reminding you that the escape route always exists, but you have to take it.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.There was a moment in my life when temptation hit me during a season of vulnerability — and I mean vulnerability in the deepest sense. Emotionally worn down, spiritually tired, not thinking clearly, not guarding myself the way I should have.And it wasn’t a dramatic moment. It was subtle. An invitation. A moment that didn’t “seem dangerous.” But the Holy Spirit spoke so clearly and so sharply that it froze me right where I stood. It wasn’t a shout. It was the kind of whisper that feels like thunder on the inside:“Matthew… leave now.”Not “pray about it.”Not “be strong.”Not “you can handle this.”Just —“Leave.”And I did.I didn’t stay to analyze it. I didn’t debate whether it was really dangerous. I didn’t wait for clarity. I walked out immediately, and Brother, that single decision protected my future. It protected my marriage. It protected my integrity. It protected my calling.God wasn’t scolding me. He was saving me.And Michelle… God used her steadiness and wisdom to anchor me. I’ve watched her flee situations that could have broken her heart or compromised her peace. I’ve seen her step back from conversations, friendships, and environments that didn’t align with holiness — not out of fear, but out of conviction. She taught me that fleeing isn’t cowardly. It’s courageous. It’s choosing God’s whisper over the world’s pull.💪 LIVING APPLICATIONIf you want victory over temptation, don’t stand there and wrestle with it. Listen to the whisper of the Holy Spirit the moment He says, “Go.” When temptation shows up, your strength is not in resisting… your strength is in escaping. God will always provide the exit — but you have to take the step.🙏 PRAYERFather, give me the wisdom to recognize temptation early and the courage to walk away quickly. Teach me to follow Your whisper instead of flirting with danger. Strengthen my resolve, guard my heart, and make my escape path clear. Keep me close to You, and far from anything that could harm my soul. In Jesus’ name — amen.⚡ Let’s Get To Work.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe