The Purpose Driven Life, Chapter Twenty Seven
Defeating Temptation
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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. However, you must do your part too, by practicing four biblical keys to defeating temptation.
Refocus your attention on something else.
Nowhere in the Bible are we told to "resist temptation." Instead, we are advised to refocus our attention, because resisting a thought doesn't work. It only intensifies our focus on the wrong thing and strengthens its allure.
Every time you try to block a thought out of your mind, you drive it deeper into your memory. By resisting it, you actually reinforce it. The more you fight a feeling, the more it consumes and controls you. You strengthen it every time you think about it. Since temptation always begins with a thought, the quickest way to neutralize its allure is to turn your attention to something else.
Temptation begins by capturing your attention. What gets your attention arouses your emotions. Then your emotions activate your behavior, and you act on what you felt. The more you focus on "I don't want to do this," the stronger it draws you into its web. Ignoring a temptation is far more effective than fighting it. Once your mind is on something else, the temptation loses its power.
Spiritually, your mind is your most vulnerable organ. To reduce temptation, keep your mind occupied with God's Word and other good thoughts. If you're serious about defeating temptation you must manage your mind and monitor your media intake. Don't allow trash into your mind indiscriminately. Be selective. Choose carefully what you think about. This takes a lifetime of practice, but with the help of the Holy Spirit you can reprogram the way you think.
Reveal your struggle to a godly friend or support group.
You don't have to broadcast it to the whole world, but you need at least one person you can honestly share your struggles with. If you're losing the battle against a persistent bad habit, an addiction, or a temptation, and you're stuck in a repeating cycle of good intention-failure-guilt, you will not get better on your own! You need the help of other people. Some temptations are only overcome with the help of a partner who prays for you, encourages you, and holds you accountable.
Do you really want to be healed of that persistent temptation that keeps defeating you over and over? God's solution is plain: Don't repress it, confess it! Don't conceal it, reveal it. Revealing your feeling is the beginning of healing.
Satan wants you to think that your sin and temptation are unique so you must keep them a secret. The truth is, we're all in the same boat. We all fight the same temptations, and all of us have sinned. Millions have felt what you're feeling and have faced the same struggles you're facing right now.
The reason we hide our faults is pride. We want others to think we have everything under control. The truth is, whatever you can't talk about is already out of control in your life: problems with your finances, marriage, kids, thoughts, sexuality, secret habits, or anything else. If you could handle it on your own, you would have already done so. But you can't. Willpower and personal resolutions aren't enough.
Resist the Devil.
After we have humbled ourselves and submitted to God, we are then told to defy the Devil. How can we resist the Devil? The first step is to accept God's slavation. You won't be able to say no to the Devil unless you've said yes to Christ. If you are a believer, Satan cannot force you to do anything. He can only suggest.
Second, you must use the Word of God as your weapon against Satan. Don't ever try to argue with the Devil. He's better at arguing than you are, having had thousands of years to practice. You can't bluff Satan with logic or your opinion, but you can use the weapon that makes him tremble--the truth of God.
Realize your vulnerability
Given the right circumstances, any of us are capable of any sin. We must never let down our guard and think we are beyond temptation. Don't carelessly place yourself in tempting situations. Avoid them. Remember that it is easier to stay out of temptation than to get out of it.
Refocus your attention on something else.
Nowhere in the Bible are we told to "resist temptation." Instead, we are advised to refocus our attention, because resisting a thought doesn't work. It only intensifies our focus on the wrong thing and strengthens its allure.
Every time you try to block a thought out of your mind, you drive it deeper into your memory. By resisting it, you actually reinforce it. The more you fight a feeling, the more it consumes and controls you. You strengthen it every time you think about it. Since temptation always begins with a thought, the quickest way to neutralize its allure is to turn your attention to something else.
Temptation begins by capturing your attention. What gets your attention arouses your emotions. Then your emotions activate your behavior, and you act on what you felt. The more you focus on "I don't want to do this," the stronger it draws you into its web. Ignoring a temptation is far more effective than fighting it. Once your mind is on something else, the temptation loses its power.
Spiritually, your mind is your most vulnerable organ. To reduce temptation, keep your mind occupied with God's Word and other good thoughts. If you're serious about defeating temptation you must manage your mind and monitor your media intake. Don't allow trash into your mind indiscriminately. Be selective. Choose carefully what you think about. This takes a lifetime of practice, but with the help of the Holy Spirit you can reprogram the way you think.
Reveal your struggle to a godly friend or support group.
You don't have to broadcast it to the whole world, but you need at least one person you can honestly share your struggles with. If you're losing the battle against a persistent bad habit, an addiction, or a temptation, and you're stuck in a repeating cycle of good intention-failure-guilt, you will not get better on your own! You need the help of other people. Some temptations are only overcome with the help of a partner who prays for you, encourages you, and holds you accountable.
Do you really want to be healed of that persistent temptation that keeps defeating you over and over? God's solution is plain: Don't repress it, confess it! Don't conceal it, reveal it. Revealing your feeling is the beginning of healing.
Satan wants you to think that your sin and temptation are unique so you must keep them a secret. The truth is, we're all in the same boat. We all fight the same temptations, and all of us have sinned. Millions have felt what you're feeling and have faced the same struggles you're facing right now.
The reason we hide our faults is pride. We want others to think we have everything under control. The truth is, whatever you can't talk about is already out of control in your life: problems with your finances, marriage, kids, thoughts, sexuality, secret habits, or anything else. If you could handle it on your own, you would have already done so. But you can't. Willpower and personal resolutions aren't enough.
Resist the Devil.
After we have humbled ourselves and submitted to God, we are then told to defy the Devil. How can we resist the Devil? The first step is to accept God's slavation. You won't be able to say no to the Devil unless you've said yes to Christ. If you are a believer, Satan cannot force you to do anything. He can only suggest.
Second, you must use the Word of God as your weapon against Satan. Don't ever try to argue with the Devil. He's better at arguing than you are, having had thousands of years to practice. You can't bluff Satan with logic or your opinion, but you can use the weapon that makes him tremble--the truth of God.
Realize your vulnerability
Given the right circumstances, any of us are capable of any sin. We must never let down our guard and think we are beyond temptation. Don't carelessly place yourself in tempting situations. Avoid them. Remember that it is easier to stay out of temptation than to get out of it.