Where Are Your Accusers? Fighting the Spiritual Battle of Temptation

In John 8-11, Jesus saves a woman who was “caught in adultery, in the very act”. When He sends the Pharisees away and confronts the woman, she responds that there are no more accusers. Jesus then sends her on her way and tells her to “sin no more”. I simplified this even more: Jesus sends away our accusers and our main accuser, Satan. When He sends them away, He then asks us “who is left to condemn you?” (who do you have left?) We then answer “no one, Lord” (you are all I have left). And Jesus responds, “neither do I condemn you” (I am all you need).

When fighting spiritual battles, whether we cry out or don’t, God still saves us and is there to fight for us (1 Sam. 17:47; Psalm 18:1-3; Ps. 46; Isaiah 50:7). And when He saves us, He reassures us that we are not alone (Joshua 1:5; Isaiah 43:1-5). God confronts us on our issues (Matt. 8:23-27; 14:22-31). When we are honest with Him about our sins and repentant (Luke 15:21), He is quick to forgive us and bring us to redemption (1 John 1:9; Ex. 34:6-7; Ps. 145:8; Luke 15:22-24)

I recently gave in to a temptation after a while of resisting. If I’m being honest, it was at a certain point where my hormones got the better of me. Afterwards I felt numb and emotionless— I had gone so long without giving in, and the times that I was confronted I was able to resist and even laugh at the Enemy for trying to tempt me. But this past month I gave in all on my own— I actively sought it out and engaged in it longer than I should have. I felt guilty and ashamed, and there was the familiar part of me that didn’t want to go to God because I didn’t feel worthy. But to God be the glory! The moment I started thinking I wasn’t worthy of going to God, I IMMEDIATELY cried out for my Lord and Savior to save me. Because one thing about me? I will ALWAYS call on Jesus. When I get to a point where I don’t believe I can come to my perfect, holy Father, that’s when I seem to snap out of my guilt and shame. The times we don’t feel like going to God are the exact times we SHOULD go to God. And the times we don’t feel like praying are when we NEED to pray.

I can only boast in the Lord (Gal. 5:14), but if I could boast in myself, it would be at the quickness that I ask for forgiveness and pray for deliverance. I strive to NEVER get to a point where I turn from God because I feel like I’ve disappointed Him. Because God’s love for me is greater than any disappointment I could bring Him (1 John 4:4). He is bigger than my past mistakes. He is bigger than my feelings of shame, insecurity, anger, and resentment. And once I forgive myself, then I am one step closer to getting stronger (Is. 43:18-19, 25).

The spiritual journey is no joke. It is not a game where we aren’t risking anything. We are risking our lives every. Single. Day. The enemy will try anything and use anyone to try to shake us. He will try new things to see what makes us ultimately fall into sin (John 10:10). And he has gotten to me many times, but I’ve always overcome it by trusting in God and calling on my Lord for forgiveness. Every morning that I wake up, I am grateful that God allowed to me live once more and not die in my feelings of guilt and shame (Lam. 3:23) I remind myself that I have become a new creature in God, and that I do not have to go back to my old ways (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 2:20). And yes, my old ways may sneak up every once in a while. But the more I go to Jesus when things get hard, the more I am building up my spiritual armor against the weapons of the enemy (Eph. 6).

And you can too. Don't give Satan something else to accuse you of...you are FREE.

-       Sherry Amor