Why are temptations appealing?

[Ahlman]

A temptation is something that promises everything, but gives you nothing. Even if you know that it displeases God to give in to the temptations, that it in fact would be a contribution to the pain of Christ during the passion, and that you will feel dirty and have an unpeaceful mind afterwards if you do - why are the temptations still appealing? Why is there still something inside us that wants to have the temptations satisfied rather than extinguished?

 

[Fergal]

Temptations are so appealing because your soul is so desireable.

There is a battle on for the prize that is your soul and it manifests itself within us as a battle between flesh and spirit.

When the Spirit soars and makes its way to God, the flesh rises up and longs to reassert its lost rights which indeed bring it low again and out of favour with God.

Such is the sine wave of life, which will be with us all through our lives.

 

[Trishie]

Interesting thoughts, Fergal! I’m impressed!

I don’t know, mate, but I tried to work out something regarding temptation with the following. It’s true that we are seeking a good when we are tempted…but often it is in conflict with a higher good. The following doesn’t do much, but at the time I wrote it I was taken with the idea of ‘loving solutions’ to temptation occurrences.

Temptations: loving solutions
God, You do not wish us to succumb to sin, guilt or anxiety. You wish us to hope in Your mercy.

When we are tempted against goodness, please unfold loving solutions in us through wisdom, trust, prayer and thanksgiving.

In temptations against charity, let us invite You to love through us aptly and sensitively.

In doubt or discouragement, let us affirm faith.

Let temptations of dislike or anger remind us that we are called to serve each other in mutual charity.

Let temptations against humility and obedience cause us to rejoice that God Incarnate obeyed humbly for our sakes.

In temptations against purity of intention, inspire us to focus our hearts and minds on You, in order to share in Your divine life, in harmony with everyone who seeks God.

In temptations against chastity, fill us with respect — for where others attract us, we honour You who love them. Let each temptation against chastity become the joyful victory of Your love in souls moving towards You in spiritual company of loved fellow humans!

God, in our temptations let us be trusting and peaceful, for You are God who loves us. Let the loving solutions that You offer us in our difficulties, serve to recreate and unite us in the communion of Saints and Angels. Let goodness be wrought out of all temptation so that Your kingdom triumphs before everything that seeks its destruction.

“Never, when you have been tempted, say, ‘God sent the temptation’; God cannot be tempted to do anything wrong, and He does not tempt anybody. Everyone who is tempted is attracted and seduced by his own wrong desire. Then the desire conceives and gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it too has a child, and the child is death.” [James 1:13-15]

 

[Fergal]

Temptations: loving solutions
God, You do not wish us to succumb to sin, guilt or anxiety. You wish us to hope in Your mercy.

When we are tempted against goodness, please unfold loving solutions in us through wisdom, trust, prayer and thanksgiving.

In temptations against charity, let us invite You to love through us aptly and sensitively.

In doubt or discouragement, let us affirm faith.

Let temptations of dislike or anger remind us that we are called to serve each other in mutual charity.

Let temptations against humility and obedience cause us to rejoice that God Incarnate obeyed humbly for our sakes.

In temptations against purity of intention, inspire us to focus our hearts and minds on You, in order to share in Your divine life, in harmony with everyone who seeks God.

In temptations against chastity, fill us with respect — for where others attract us, we honour You who love them. Let each temptation against chastity become the joyful victory of Your love in souls moving towards You in spiritual company of loved fellow humans!

God, in our temptations let us be trusting and peaceful, for You are God who loves us. Let the loving solutions that You offer us in our difficulties, serve to recreate and unite us in the communion of Saints and Angels. Let goodness be wrought out of all temptation so that Your kingdom triumphs before everything that seeks its destruction.

What a profound prayer.
Give thanks to God. This prayer of yours is truly a reflection of the Holy Spirits movement in your soul. He has given wisdom and insight to you.

Quite Profound indeed.