Temptation comes to everyone. We all have our “pet” sins—the things that plague us and try to yank us in to serving self instead of honoring God with our bodies, words, or attitudes. It’s all a part of living in a sin-fallen world. BUT here’s the hope! Because of the indwelling Spirit—the Spirit of God Himself!—we have the strength to resist temptation. And when we resist temptation, it flees. The more we resist temptation, the more natural it becomes to resist it, until temptation plagues us less and less frequently. That’s called growing in righteousness, or becoming justified. My mom’s favorite verse, according to a note in her Bible, was I Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” Yes, temptation comes to everyone, but when we lean on the Spirit’s guidance, we don’t have to succumb. We can walk in freedom.