Delores Liesner
Activating Faith in everyday life
Got any WOEs for me? (Way of Escape)
Temptations and WOE – Way of Escape
First published in 1896, In His Steps by Charles Sheldon first coined the phrase What Would Jesus Do? Members of a little depression-era church were challenged by a man they’d been avoiding all week. The ragged and disheveled man presented himself before the congregation and listed the needs that were ignored by the Jesus followers in this church. He asked them if their responses to him and his needs were what Jesus would have done. The pastor challenged members to a year of prefacing any big decisions with the WWJD question, and as you can imagine, there were remarkable life changes that resulted. That pattern affected many readers’ lives as well as mine.
It is still a good idea to ask that question, and then to base our decision on scripture, and to recognize the model Jesus set in varied situations. In life today as in the story it is vital that the question What would Jesus do had to be asked before the final decision was made.
With that in mind, I was thinking of the little things that trip me up – chocolate, salty snacks and being overtired.
I Corinthians 10:13 says every temptation we face is common and more prevalent than we think. It also says that with the temptations God will be sure that we have a WOE – a Way Of Escape.
I’ve been challenged to journal my 3 meals a day + 2 fruits –and my temptations and WOEs for the next 6 weeks. Hopefully, when I have a temptation and add it to my daily list, I can add a healthy WOE that will curb the salty or sweet craving.
Have you ever done that? What were your WOEs? Some suggestions I’ve gotten so far are celery or apple as they crunch, drink a cup of tea or flavored water, take a walk. Those are all healthy WOEs and I’m hoping that journaling and practicing recognizing the temptation and seeking out a WOE and applying it will create a new habit that will remind me I do not have to succumb to the temptations.
Just thought I’d give you a warning if you hear me moan or whine something that sounds like…
Whoa! That IS what I want to do – to stop and look for a way of escape.
Got any suggestions? I’m all ears…
Be the Miracle! – with journaling pages
Delores Liesner: Author
American Christian Fiction Writers Association
Delores Liesner 