Overcoming Temptation -- a great link

[The_Reginator]

Here is a great meditation on overcoming temptation:

Of Resisting Temptation
by Thomas a Kempis

These stood out for me:

1. As long as we live in this world we cannot be without tribulation and temptation. Hence it is written in Job: Man’s life upon earth is a temptation.

1. A man is never entirely secure from temptations as long as he lives: because we have within us the source of temptations, having been born in concupiscence. When one temptation or tribulation is over, another comes on: and we shall have always something to suffer, because we have lost the good of our original happiness. Many seek to fly temptations, and fall more grievously into them. By flight alone we cannot overcome: but by patience and true humility we are made stronger than all our enemies.

1. Inconstancy of mind, and small confidence in God, is the beginning of all temptations. For as a ship without a rudder is tossed to and fro by the waves: so the man who is remiss, and who quits his resolution, is many ways tempted. Fire tries iron, and temptation tries a just man. We often know not what we can do: but temptation discovers what we are.

For first a bare thought comes to the mind: then a strong imagination: afterwards delight, and evil motion and consent. And thus, by little and little, the wicked enemy gets full entrance, when he is not resisted in the beginning, And how much the longer a man is negligent in resisting; so much the weaker does he daily become in himself, and the enemy becomes stronger against him.

1. We must not therefore despair when we are tempted, but pray to God with so much the more fervour, that he may vouchsafe to help us in all tribulations: who, no doubt, according to the saying of St. Paul, will make such issue with the temptation that we may be able to sustain it.

Let us therefore humble our souls, under the hand of God in all temptations and tribulations: for the humble in spirit he will save and exalt.