How to Fight Temptation
by Scott Basham, BibleSteak Contributor
- See sin as God sees your sin. He hates it. (Prov 6:16-19, Psalm 5:5)
- Acknowledge your sin. Admit it. (Psalm 32:5, 38:18)
- Determine you will do anything to avoid the sin. (Job 11:14)
- Repent of and forsake your sin. Ask for and accept God's forgiveness. (1 John 1:9)
- Ask for God's grace to prevent temptation from coming near. Trust God to work with you. (2 Cor 5:17)
- Ask for and accept God's grace and the Holy Spirit's work to overcome temptation.(2 Tim 1:9, Rom 8:14)
- Plan ahead of time (like police do) what you will do and how you will act when tempted. (Luke 14:28)
- Know that God ALWAYS provides an escape route, and shows it to you (1 Cor 10:13). Open your eyes to see the paved road out.
- Don't go near temptation. When you see it, run away. (Prov 4:14-15)
- To resist it, have daily quiet times to prepare you mind for the day. And in times of temptation, praise God, sing to God, and recite memorized Scripture. (Psalm 119:11)
- Don't make excuses (like no one is perfect, God will forgive me, no one sees it, etc.). (Genesis 3:11-13
- You may fall to the sin again. Repent quickly (the quicker you repent, the more mature). (Prov 28:13)
- When you confess, note the date, and use that as a reminder. (Deut 32:7)
- Realize you are not free from the consequences of sin. Sin ALWAYS has consequences. (Gal 6:7, Isaiah 59:2)
- Realize your sins can be passed on to your children (without grace and forgiveness). (Numbers 14:18)
- Once you repent, know what you are clean before God - God has removed the guilt. (Jeremiah 33:8)
- Find someone to share your struggle with, and to ask you tough questions. (Eccl 4:9-10)