How do you resist temptation?

[SportsJunkie25]

How do you resist temptation? How do you resist that urge? Even if you pray, it doesn't go away. Is it supposed to go away (b/c you prayed) or are we just supposed to ignore it?

 

[skysthelimit]

Temptation is something everyone experiences. The way that's worked for me is to talk to God about it and give it all to Him, and then focus on other things in life so I don't think about it as much. Sometimes things will come up here and there, but overall I feel that praying to God gives you the strength to resist and ignore whatever temptation may be in your life.

 

[SportsJunkie25]

Temptation is something everyone experiences. The way that's worked for me is to talk to God about it and give it all to Him, and then focus on other things in life so I don't think about it as much. Sometimes things will come up here and there, but overall I feel that praying to God gives you the strength to resist and ignore whatever temptation may be in your life.

But how do you resist something you want to do, but know you shouldn't do? I may pray for God to help me resist but deep down inside, I still want to do it. How do I change from wanting to do it to hating it? Will continuous prayer eventually change my heart?

And, even if you can resist it (when the thoughts come up), will you still have to deal w/ the thoughts? I guess so huh...that's what temptation is?

 

[LoneSheep]

Change your state of mind, fill it with something else or do something that distracts you. Call a friend or go for a walk. Don't let the thoughts stew or they will overtake your mind.

Yes, the thoughts never go away. Temptation is a daily struggle for everyone

 

[hailhismercy]

Prayer is a huge influence in temptation in my own personal life. If I were struggling with an addiction, whenever I wanted to feed my addiction, prayer/reflection time with Christ and maybe a walk away from the situation really helps me to overcome the addiction. You have to be able to back up, take a look at the situation, and tell God, "I don't want to be a part of this." Like someone else mentioned, maybe using that time to do something else that will keep you bust until the thought suppresses can help.

 

[skysthelimit]

Change your state of mind, fill it with something else or do something that distracts you. Call a friend or go for a walk. Don't let the thoughts stew or they will overtake your mind.

Yes, the thoughts never go away. Temptation is a daily struggle for everyone

Exactly. They won't go away, but with prayer and a mindset that doesn't dwell on something for too long is the key to overcoming temptation.

 

[grreeneiz]

We all deal with temptations everyday, the come and go. I think even sometimes they are enough to make anyone go MAD! But keep the faith and pray to make the right decision.

 

[mysparrow]

The mind is the battlefield satan uses to draw us away. We are told in scripture to take every thought captive. That means, when the thought comes into your mind, recognize it for what it is, temptation from the enemy and then consciously make that thought be put under subjection to Christ. If we are training our minds to be on Christ and Godly thoughts, then the enemy can't get a temptation in to do any good . Now I'm not saying you will go all day and think of nothing but Jesus, that's not what I mean. But when you realize your thoughts are going somewhere they should not be, that is the time to begin to think on spiritual things. Begin singing a favorite Christian song, read a bible verse or two, anything to get your thought train back on track. The bottom line is, temptations will come, but God gives us a way to escape them. It is your choice, whether to entertain the temptation or not. Temptation is just that. you have a choice to not act on it. Sometimes it can get rough, but it is absolutely possible to overcome i t. And when you do overcome it, after a time it gets easier to overcome that certain temptation. Then you will be free from it, and the enemy will of course try something new lol. I hope this has encouraged you to keep fighting the good faith.

 

[Johnnz]

I imagine you are referring to your sex drive. Please recognise that we all have a perfectly natural, hormonally activated sex drive. That will be there for the greater part of your life. You are not always being tempted; much will be natural drive. Temptation is to engage in something that we know is wrong.

John
NZ

 

[SportsJunkie25]

Oh, ok. Seeing as I'm new to 100% surrendering myself to God, I have a lot of questions these days. I think I just assumed that if I prayed, temptation would go away. I guess if it was that easy, temptation wouldn't be a big struggle with people.

Thanks for responding and now I'll be aware that the thoughts that pop in my head from time-to-time...are from the enemy. I used to just give in to get rid of the thoughts, b/c they didn't go away w/ prayer, but now I know better...I guess.