“Run form anything that gives you the evil thoughts….but stay close to anything that makes you want to do right” II Timothy 2:22
You may sometimes feel that a temptation is too overpowering for you to bear, but that’s a lie from Satan God has promised never to allow more on you than he puts within you to handle it. He will not permit any temptation that you could not overcome.
The Holy Bible states in I Corinthians 10:13 “Remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.’”
Neverthless, you must do your part too by practicing four biblical keys to defeating temptation and the keys are :
1. Refocus your attention on something else.
2. Reveal your struggle to a godly friend or support group.
3. Resist the devil.
4. Realize your vulnerability.
Refocus your attention on something else. It may surprise you that nowhere in the Bible are we told to “resist temptation”. We are told to “Resist the devil”- but that is very different, as I will explain later. Instead,we are advised to refocus our attention because we are resisting thought doen’t work. It only instensifies our focus on the wrong thing and strengthens is allure. Let me explain to you.
Every time you try to block a thought our of your mind, you drive it deeper into your memory. By resisting it, you actually reinforce it. This is especially true with temptation.You don’t defeat temptation by fighting the feeling of it. The more you fight a feeling, the more consumes and controls you.
Since temptation always begins in your mind, with a thought, the quickest way to neutralize its allure is to turn your attention to something else. Please do not fight the thought, just change the channel of your mind and get interested in another idea. This is the first step to defeating temptation. Remember:
Job said : ‘I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust upon al young woman”Job 31:1. David prayed, “Keep me from paying attention to what is worthless”Psalm 119:37 a
The battle for sin is won or lost in your mind. Whatever gets your attention will get you.
Your friend and sister in faith,