SUMMARY: According to scientists, people who are sure they can resist temptations are probably wrong. The more confident they are, the more likely they are to give in to temptation. So says Loran Nordgren from Northwestern University. The result is that many people unwittingly expose themselves to such allures as chocolate or cigarettes, leading to a greater chance of indulging in addictive behaviors.Nordgren arrived at her conclusions after a series of small experiments with college students, the results of which may not necessarily hold true for the general population. In one experiment involving smoking, smokers who thought they could control the urge were more than twice as likely to light up a cigarette than those who were less confident. Less confident students also were more likely to watch an anti-smoking film and keep cigarettes out of their hands than the more confident students.
In another test, participants who were hungry were more likely to avoid eating favorite snacks than those who were full. Also, students who were tired or mentally fatigued were slightly less likely to put off their studies to the last minute compared to students who were non-fatigued.
Nordgren figures her research has implications for our personal lives. Recovering alcoholics should probably avoid parties with alcohol, dieters should stay away from dessert buffets, and committed husbands may want to limit contacts with former girlfriends. People often can't predict how they will act in any given situation.
To read the entire article click on this YAHOO / LIVE SCIENCE link.
COMMENT: Not surprisingly, this article talks about temptations without any religious reference, but I found it interesting nevertheless. However, I don't believe that as Christians we can consider temptations without thinking about their source. Along with Martin Luther, we understand that the ungodly temptations which come our way are due to "the devil, the world, and our flesh." (Luther's Small Catechism, Explanation of the Sixth Petition).
Probably not everything the world calls a temptation is an ungodly temptation. Here we have the Word of God to tell us what is and isn't a sinful temptation. Being sinful human beings, we will at times give in to the devil, the world or our sinful flesh. When that happens we can ask for forgiveness and pray that, as Luther says, "we may finally overcome and obtain the victory." St. Paul comforts us with these words: "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV)
Meanwhile, the advice in this article about avoiding places and situations where we might be tempted is good advice. The greatest temptation we will surely want to avoid is to think that our good works and our efforts to avoid sinful behavior will earn us "brownie points" with God. God's promise to us of eternal life in heaven is due entirely to the life and death of His Son, Jesus Christ, and not to anything we have done or not done. Our love of God and our thankfulness for the gift of salvation is enough reason for wanting to avoid giving into the sinful temptations of the devil, the world and our flesh.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
How much of the earth's surface is desert?About one-third.
Source: www.livescience.com
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