I don't know temptation

The other day I was driving and had my radio set on a station.  I listened as the song I Need thee every Hour played.  It is an old hymn that I grew up singing in the small community church where I worshipped with my family. 

I was so taken by the words as I sang "I need thee O I need thee,  every hour I need thee, O bless me now my savior I come to thee."  Every hour I need thee.  That so discribes my life right now.  As I continue listening, I hear a verse that I am not familiar with. I need thee every hour, stay though nearby, temptations lose their power when thou art neigh.

Wow! Temptations lose their power when thou art neigh.  What a wonderful message-to know that when He is near, temptations are not a match!  I decide I am going to document the verse so that I can use it for future reference.  Not having a pen, I pull out my iphone as I'm going to capture the words in my notes. 

Instead of physically typing the words, I call on Suri.  Suri is activated by pressing a button on the phone that then follows your voice directions.  I tell Suri "Suri, take a note."  Suri says "taking a note."  I tell Suri, "Suri type temptations lose their power" and she types "ten tons lose their power."  I then say change ten tons to temptations and Suri replies "I don't know what that is."  

I thought "lucky you!"  Suri did not know the word temptation....Oh if I only didn't know temptation.   The analogy I will use relative to temptation is red velvet cake.  I love red velvet cake.  Rarely do I pass it up and when I see it, I am so tempted to just take a little bite.  Of course you know that if I have just a bite, I have to have a piece and if I have a piece, it has to be a big one. I can not just go with a little bit.  The frosting is so delicious and the flavors are like none other. 

Of course, with this temptation come consequences.  For every piece I eat I have to run about four miles.  Hardly a compromise.  There is a price to pay for succumbing to temptation and often the consequences far outweigh the pleasure.  Temptation is not always the same for everyone.   If you don't care for red velvet cake, it won't be a problem for you to resist.  Like Suri, someone who does not like this cake does not know this temptation. 

That is how life is.  There are things that draw us away from God, things that are truly a temptation for us, things that take us from a walk with Christ.  There are some areas where I wish I could say "I don't know temption" but unfortunately, it exists. 

I go back to the verse in the song: I need Him every hour and having Christ in my life every hour gives me power.  It gives me power to resist temptation.  I can't say "I don't know temptation" but I can say "I know the power of Christ which can help me overcome temptation."

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.  Matthew 26:41

I Need Thee Every Hour-Words by Annie Hawks-1872, Music Robert Lowry