Tips in Resisting Temptation

We all have one thing in common. We’ve all faced temptation and failed sometimes.

Let’s clear something up right now. Temptation is not character weakness or a part of your mind. Temptation is an intelligent plan of attack laid out by the enemy.

Tempt a man to hate at his mother for a minor offense and then when he stifles the hatred, tempt him with pride.

In temptation we see a strong attack designed to make us fail.

In Jesus we see a strategy for resisting temptation (Matthew Chapter 4).

1. Know the Bible. When we know the Bible it makes us realize where we fit in to God’s plan and the undesirability of sin. (Matthew 4:4)
   
   
2. Recognize Temptation. If you’re under intense temptation, you need to recognize that right away. Realizing you faced temptation after you sinned is no good. You need to say to yourself in the midst of the battle: “I am facing temptation to ______”. Temptation is a battle and recognizing you’re under attack is vital to fighting that attack. (Matthew 4:7)
   
   
3. Separate yourself from the object of temptation. If temptation continues get what’s tempting you away. If you’re tempted to lie, stop talking. If you’re tempted to overeat leave the dinner table. If you’re tempted to cuss a telemarketer hang up the phone. (Matthew 4:10)
   

In my life resisting temptation always seemed to be a losing battle. I would call for God but really I wouldn’t be fighting temptation. I was standing on the fence asking for God’s assistance half heartedly.

The biggest step for me was to say in my mind “I am being tempted to _____” at the moment I noticed temptation. This prepared me for the enemy’s tactics and allowed me to expect the Devil’s line of spiritual attacks. It also allowed me to ask God for help with all my heart.