Temptation - "Want" Vs "Ought"

C.S.Lewis suggests that Satan does not tempt us with repulsive things, but rather temptation offers the subtle choices between what we want to do and what we ought to do ("The Screwtape Letters").

When God created the world, He saw that it was good. The devil, being less than God, does not create; rather his work is of pale imitations and distortions of God's good works. God's will is for our proper, moderated care, use and enjoyment of His creation. But as our natural wills are not fully aligned with God's, we are constantly tempted toward improper, immoderate, uncaring misuse of His good gifts. Self-respect, necessary for our growth as children of God, when used as an 'end' instead of a 'means', becomes pride. Self-love, the model of our love of others, misguided, becomes selfishness. Appreciation of beauty, immoderately, becomes lust and avarice. Natural appetites excessively fed, become greed and gluttony.

William Booth knew that temptation was a life-long struggle - "Even now after 40 years of faithful service for God, by one act, I could ruin it all".

But God does understand the temptations we face, having been tempted (in Christ) in every respect as we are, but did not succumb, and so is therefore able to understand our infirmities (Heb.4:13). Whilst He promises to deliver the Godly out of temptation (2 Pet.2:9), we are also reminded that in the service of The Lord, there will be many tears and temptations (Acts 20:19). The closer we get to God, the harder the temptations become, so much so that we can count it as joy to fall into temptations (Jas.1:2), for the man that endures temptations will be blessed (Jas.1:12).

Lord, teach me your ways, show me your will, strengthen my resolve, that the ought will over-power the wants. Amen.