7/28/2019 The 10 Best Tips for Resisting Temptation
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The 10 Best Tips for Resisting Temptation
Ever since the entrance of evil into our world, every person
seeking to serve God has felt the battle between two
opposing mastersand Satan is always ready to exploit our
physical and emotional desires to sever our relationship
with God (Isaiah 59:2). But God has called us to holinessthat
is, to separate ourselves from sin. As He whocalled you is holy,
you also be holy in all your conduct (1 Peter 1:15). Of course,
without supernatural aid, we are
powerless to resist the evil desires of the carnal heart, but we
do have an active part to play in serving God so
here are 10 practical tips to help you overcome temptation.
#1 Remember the Reward God Has in Store for You
Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,nor have entered into the heart
of man the things which God has prepared forthose who love Him (1
Corinthians 2:9). It is much easier to resist temptation if you
believe you are really saved.
But cautionif you mistakenly think you can work your way into
being saved, you will actually erode your ability
to resist evil.
#2: Believe in the Badness of Sin
So that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly
sinful (Romans 7:13). Dont be deceived when
the devil portrays sin as something to be desired. Go back about
2,000 years to Calvary and see what sin did to
Jesus. You need to come to the place where you love God so much
that you would rather die than grieve Him.
#3: Get Ready to Flee
Few speed records are broken when people run from temptation.
Sometimes temptation comes through a door
deliberately left open. If you accidentally spilled kerosene all
over your clothes and somebody lit a match nearby,
where would you go? As far away as you could, as fast as
possible! That should be our attitude toward temptation.
Flee fornication and flee from idolatry (1 Corinthians 6:18;
10:14).
#4: Dont Follow the Crowd
Everybodys doing it, so it must be okay. The devil loves lemming
logic. By letting the crowd dictate our
values, we become like the crowdand the crowd is usually wrong.
Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate
and broad is the way that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13).
Christians have to think for themselves and resist
peer pressure. Its okay to be different.
#5: Plan to Stay Busy
An idle person tempts the devil to tempt him. When God told
Adam, In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread,
it was intended to be a blessing for man to stay out of trouble
(Genesis 3:19). Sin begins in the mind. If we stay
focused on doing something good, we dont have time to think
about evil. Commit to being involved in serving
Jesus through witnessing or serving the poor.
#6: Have a Plan
Its always good to be prepared. Proverbs 22:3 teaches, A prudent
man foresees evil and hides himself, bu t the
simple pass on and are punished. If you have an area of
temptation you know will drag you down, take whatever
advance measures of prevention you can to keep from being
overcome.
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#7: Know Your Limitations
Let him who thinks he stands take heed lesthe fall (1
Corinthians 10:12). We must not trust in our own strength
be very cautious when thinking you have a handle on a certain
temptation and say, It wont bother me anymore.
Im strong enough. Thats when we are especially in a position to
fall.
#8 Overcome Evil with Good
We leave ourselves open to sin when we fail to fill the vacuum
left by forsaken bad habits. The secret is to learn to
eat what is good (Isaiah 55:2). Be not overcome of evil, but
overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). If
someone has insulted or cruelly used you, do not retaliate with
evil but kindness.
#9 Care for Your Health
Jesus said, The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak
(Matthew 26:41). Temptation often comes not at our
strongest moments, but during our weakest. Most marital
arguments occur at the end of the day when one or both
spouses are tired and hungry. So get enough sleep and exercise
and eat good food. Avoid sensitive discussions or
demanding tasks during volatile times.
#10: Recognize Your Only Escape
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man;
but God is faithful, who will not allow you to
be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation
will also make the way of escape, that you may be
able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13). We dont have to rely on
our power; we can rely on Gods strength! When
you are tempted, go to God in prayer for His strength.
By Gods grace, you can resist every temptation. Constant prayer
with God will go a long way! But remember that if
you do fall, dont give up. Many people who fall down, stay down,
but God can help you recover lost territory, and
He will save you from future temptations. The Christian life is
often a progressive one. My little children, thesethings I write to
you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an
Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous (1 John 2:1). Dont let past failures be an excuse
for future compromise. Instead, give thanks to God,
who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1
Corinthians 15:57). Ask Him for overcoming powerand
take it one day at a time.
