A temptation is designed with a conception, embryo, and birthing. James 1:14-15 says, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

We crush a temptation before it appears. Note how James highlighted own desires. Buried fleshly desires are self-serving. Even though they are ‘buried’ they enter into our thought process.

I have never drank, and I have no hidden desire to drink. However I am tempted by another, I will not be enticed. Why? There is no seed of conception that could develop into an embryo.

Don’t get me wrong. There may be other seed-desires planted in my heart. With the right enticement I might be drawn away. I am writing this to remind us of the progression.

David wrote Psalm 51 after the fact of his self-serving conception, embryo, and birth that brought forth death. Verse 10 says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Psalm 119:10 says, “With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments.” How do we not wander? Wanderlust begins with a thought. The true definition for a wanderlust is a strong desire to travel and explore.

In a spiritual sense, it means to go beyond God’s prescribed way. We can easily travel in our minds and explore worldly pursuits. It is a mental dialogue that births the temptation, bringing it into full-grown spiritual death.

Our spirit man needs spiritual food to thrive. That starts by reading God’s word daily to observe to do it. His word remains only print-on-a-page until we inculcate it into our hearts. His digested manna will sustain us so we can readily rise up to say ‘no’ when a juicy temptation is presented.

Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” As we delight in Him, new desires are conceived and grow into a heart full of thoughts that please Him.