Unhooked: Holy in a Hookup Worldಮಾದರಿ

Week 4: Find Virtue

Welcome to week 4 of Unhooked! In week 3, you recognized God as the source of all security—which frees you to know the value of growing in virtue. Virtues are commitments you make that build a godly character and bring peace. Spend this week renewing your commitment to a more intimate relationship with Jesus.

Day 22: Instincts

Read

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. –2 Timothy 1:7

Connect

Temptation is part of being human—even for Jesus.

For 40 days, while He fasted in the wilderness, the devil tempted Him.

“If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread,” Satan said in Luke 4:3.

Even though Jesus was hungry, He declined. But Satan didn’t leave.

The devil dangled something else in front of Jesus: the glory of all the kingdoms of the world and authority over them.

“I will give it all to you if you will worship me,” Satan said.

Jesus declined again.

No matter what the devil presented or promised, Jesus transcended the temptation.

You can transcend temptations, too, and God wants to equip you to do it, even in a hookup world—a world where people choose to use each other instead of choosing to love and respect one another.

The world misuses the human body and totally neglects the soul. People are governed by their instincts and urges instead of using self-control to govern them.

We all have base instincts—urges to do whatever we feel like doing, whenever we feel like doing it, even if it isn’t good for us.

But we aren’t meant to act on every instinct. We can rise above them. Thanks to God’s grace, it is possible.

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Throughout this series, pray for God to show you the way to rise above temptation.

Pray

Psalm 118:14 reads: “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.” Thank You, Father, for giving me victory over my instincts and for offering the grace to rise above temptations. I accept Your offer with my whole heart!

Reflect

What instincts would you like to overcome? What decisions in dating have led you away from Christ? What can you do differently in the future to prevent yourself from making the same decisions?