Temptation isn't bad?

I have never liked temptation. It has always been something I have wanted to avoid. I usually do everything possible to avoid temptation. I pray that I can stay away from it and be able to stand up to it. So I've always thought that temptation was bad. Well, temptation always has a bad connotation to it. But is temptation is really bad?

I was recently reading Matthew 4 and studying Jesus' three temptations. Jesus had just been baptized and given the Holy Spirit. Now it was time for him to start his ministry but first he had to change from His life to God's life. Jesus had to change from doing His own will to God's will.

Temptation is not an opportunity to fail but one to conquer sin. It is an opportunity to turn to God. Temptation gives us desire to focus on God and do His will. Isn't that what Gods wants anyway? Doesn't God want us to desire His will? Temptation points out what isn't God's will and what is.

Temptation most often comes when 1) we are at our highest, most successful point and feel the devil can't reach us; 2) we are in our strongest point, in the middle of our gifts and talents that we think are off limits to the devil; 3) when we are alone and without our friends and support system; and 4) we think we have reached the point in our life when temptation is no longer relavent for us.

So what have I learned? Temptation is not a penalty. It is an opportunity to come closer to God. It is an opportunity to build a stronger relationship with God. Temptation is not bad, it is our choices as a result of it can be good or bad. Maybe the best way to avoid temptation is to pray not for strength to avoid it but strength to focus on God.