overcoming temptations

[kenneth nathan]

About a week ago, i decided to NEVER give into temptation as i have been tempted my whole life. I always give in because of the mental torture i had to endure, as i couldn't endure anymore. I lost my sleep. I was losing my self by the thoughts. Then when i gave in to temptation, it felt good as i was not tempted anymore. I could sleep peacefully. I never had those so called sleep terror attacks, when it was really a spiritual attack.

However, i realised i became a slave, giving into selfish desires that made me angry, hateful and bitter to others. I felt like i was missing something as i became cold and bitter. I finally woke up as I fully realised the consequences. I decided to NEVER give into temptation.

Ever since that, I been experiencing mental agony and being tempted like never before. I prayed for christ to give me strength. Last night i prayed like no other, as i was firm in my decision. However the spiritual attacks still happend. Although i didn't scream out of my room after these spiritual attacks whenever i endure from temptation, i was very startled because the DEVIL has a strong hold of me. No matter how hard i pray, i still get attacked. Somedays, i am not myself and have high urges to give in.

I don't know when this will end as i am sleepless, depressed, haven't given in. Please pray for me.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

Will do Ken... keep fighting the good fight. Just remember, temptation is not sin. Even Jesus, who was without sin, was tempted daily during His life. His only remedy from falling into sin was constant prayer for faith, strength and grace from the Father... this is our formulae for success as well.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I don't want to sound discouraging, but the battle never ends. At least as long as we actually fight it.

To be sure, it generally gets "easier". Things that tempt us to sin, perhaps sin greatly, in our spiritual infancy can be overcome, and we may learn to detest those sins and cannot be tempted anymore to do them.

But that is a good time to examine ourselves carefully. We no longer are tempted to commit x, y, or z but ... what are we thinking? Do we secretly think we are a "better Christian" than our neighbor? (Vainglory.) Are our hearts a little envious when everyone else is driving a new car or going on vacation, and we are trying to keep a clunker running? (Covetousness.) When someone of the street asks us for money, do we refuse to give it to them because we want to keep it for ourselves, or think they are unworthy of mercy because of their choices? (Greed, Judgement.) And so on.

If we apply ourselves to truly struggle against sin, including unseen sin of the heart, we will find an even fiercer struggle that will never end, but one very much worth fighting.

With the help of God, of course. None of this is possible without His grace.

 

[~Anastasia~]

By the way, I may have really answered you wrongly. Forgive me. Not that it wasn't true, but maybe not what I should have said.

Determining that WE will NEVER sin again, or sin in a certain way, is focusing on self. It can really be our pride that is hurt when we fail in our resolution. And we may fail to receive help from God, which makes it even more sure we will only fail.

A wise person once said that if you fall down in sin, you should say to yourself, "what did I expect! I am a weak person. But thank God for His mercy!" And get up, ask forgiveness, and go forward with hope in God, not relying on self. In this way, sin can be overcome.

"Fighting" temptation (which as the other poster said, is not itself sin) can also set us up for failure. Concentrating on it just makes it inescapable, and demons are tireless. Better still to turn your mind away from temptations, and don't engage them at all. Notice them, then let them go. Better to focus on prayer, or spiritual songs, or reading Scripture etc.

But if it becomes a constant battle, the demons will eventually win just about every time. They never sleep or rest.

 

[devin553344]

I will pray for you, I have gone thru similar temptations. Commanding the serpent to leave doesn't always work, but turning to prayer instead of dwelling on temptation seems to help for me. Putting God in my thoughts.