Article: Know that, no matter how hard you strive, it's impossible to live a life without temptations. We will always, at certain points, feel a temptation to sin - whether it's as innocuous as the urge to lie about our reason for being late to a meeting or as serious as the urge to strike someone who's insulted you. It's also inevitable that we will give in to this urge at some point. However, it's possible, through our efforts, to reduce the hold that temptation has over us. The fight against temptation is like waging a lifelong war - be prepared to celebrate your victories and to learn from your defeats. Never fall prey to self-hate. You are not loathsome or pathetic because you feel temptation. God always forgives. Don't get caught up in punishing yourself, even if you find yourself falling prey to temptation again and again. Use your time more intelligently by sincerely asking for God's forgiveness and working to move past your sins. "Say, 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah . Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'" (Qur'an 39:53) Scripture is full of stories, teachings, and proverbs we can draw upon when we're trying to avoid our sinful temptations. The nature of sin and temptation is a frequent topic of discussion throughout the bible - simply turn to a passage like Romans 7:18 for an illuminating perspective on the difficulty of struggling against temptation: "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." Many of the most revered figures in the Bible had intense struggles with temptation (often marked with failure). Adam and Eve committed the first sin by giving in to the temptation of eating the forbidden fruit. King David, one of the most important figures in biblical history, had one of his soldiers killed so that he could give in to temptation and steal his wife! Reading the bible can help us understand how such great men and women struggledand overcametheir temptation. Working through a particularly nasty temptation is hard work. It's easy to lose hope and even to start to believe that God has abandoned us. Nothing could be further from the truth. Thoughts like "Life is hard, so God must hate me" aren't just wrong, they're harmful. When you're struggling with temptation, God is pulling for you more than ever. God wants to see you succeed. He wants nothing more than for you to overcome your temptation. So, if God tests you, don't lose your trust in him. Instead, rise to his challenge. They lived a life of purity and perfection. He devoted his life to helping others. He practiced nonviolence, though he was willing to endure it. He suffered temptations, but he resisted them every time. Strive towards it - ordinary humans can't achieve it, but they can better themselves by trying. The Qur'an praises Muhammad: "And indeed, you are of a great moral character." (Qur'an 68:4) Christians believe that, through his mortal sacrifice, we are cleaned of all sins: (1 John 1:7) "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleans if us from all sin." If you're interested in Christ's salvation, contact a priest, minister, or other clergyman in your area.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Accept that temptation is inevitable. Don't be discouraged by your own imperfection. Study the word. Remember to trust God even when being tempted. Follow the example set by the prophets.