There is always a way out. You may feel a temptation is too overpowering for you to bear but that’s a lie of Satan. God promised never to allow more on you than He puts within you to handle it. He will not allow any temptation that you could not overcome. We must do our part by practicing four biblical keys to defeat temptation. See 1 Corinthians 10:13. – “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able; but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.”

1 – Causes of Loneliness

Refocus your attention on something else Every time you try to block a thought out of your mind, you drive it deeper into your memory. So you are actually reinforcing it when you try to resist the thought. You don’t defeat temptation by fighting the feeling of it. The more you fight a feeling the more it consumes and controls you. As temptation always starts with a thought, the quickest way to deal with it is to turn your attention to something else. The more we think about something the stronger the hold it takes on you. The battle for sin is won or lost in the mind. Whatever gets your attention gets you. In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them (Proverbs 22:5).

• You watch a food advertisement on the TV and suddenly feel hungry.
• You hear someone cough and immediately you feel the need to clear your throat.
• You see someone yawn and feel tired and yawn yourself.

There is great power in suggestion. It is why repeating things like “I must stop eating so much” or “I’m never going to be like my mum (or dad)” is all self-defeating. They keep you focused on what you want to forget. You are setting yourself up to repeat it! Ignoring a temptation is far more effective than fighting it. Once your mind is on something else the temptation loses its power. So when temptation calls you on the phone, don’t argue with it, just hang up!

2 – Reveal your struggle to a godly friend or support group

If you are losing the battle and stuck in the vicious cycle of good intentions, failure and guilt then you will not get better on your own. You don’t need to broadcast it to the whole world but you may need at least one person you can share your struggle with.

The reason we hide our faults is pride. Whatever you can’t talk about is probably already out of control. If you could handle it on your own you would have already done so. Some problems are too big, habitual or ingrained to solve on our own. See Ephesians 4:15-16 & Galatians 6:1-3.

3 – Resist the Devil

After we have humbled ourselves and submitted to God we need to defy the Devil. Don’t resign yourself to his attacks. Fight back!

• You must have received God’s salvation. Without Christ that person is defenceless against the Devil but the Christian has the armour of God. The helmet of salvation protects our minds. See Isaiah 59:17, Ephesians 6:17 & I Thessalonians 5:8.
• You must use the Word of God as your weapon. If you haven’t memorised Scripture then you have no bullets in your gun!

4 – Realise your vulnerability

Never get cocky or overconfident. It’s a recipe for disaster. Remember it’s easier to stay out of temptation than to get out. But even when we fall there is always a way out. 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. See 1 Corinthians 10:3.

Categories: Psalms