Temptations grow in stages (James 1:13-15).The first stage is seduction (being "dragged away and enticed"). Temptation begins with desires. You believe you need something in addition to Christ in order to be happy. It could be anything - someone's approval, a possession, a pleasure, a job, a family, etc. A temptation might be obviously sinful, but often it can be a good thing. Your greatest opportunity to triumph over sin is at this beginning stage of temptation. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see what you are drawn to besides Christ.
The second stage of temptation is conception ("after desire has conceived"). Now the initial desire is lodged deep in your heart and you start to plan how you can get it. What you want is becoming more important to you than God. You haven't committed the outward sin, yet your desires are sinful.
The final stage is birth ("birth to sin; and sin...gives birth to death"). The result of your desire for something besides Christ is being caught in full-blown sin. Notice that the birth is really a death - you are mastered by something other than Christ.
At any time during these different stages of temptation, you can run to Christ, repent of your sin, and learn from you failure how to withstand temptation. God can change your heart so that, instead of a particular sin dominating your life, bit by bit you will be tempted by it less and less.
- Timothy S. Lane in Heart of the Matter
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