Temptation: How Do You Deal?

[mswrite]

Hello,

I wondered if I could get some advice from you all on handling temptation. I am a freelance writer working on an article for a weekly Christian magazine on this subject. I would be so grateful to hear what works for people as they deal with temptation in their day-to-day lives.


I'd be especially interested in hearing from you if you've used any of these tactics when faced with temptation:

• Prayer
• Sharing your struggle with others
• Removing yourself from a temptation zone or removing the temptation from your life
• Replacing a bad habit with a good habit
• Thinking about the temptations you've already overcome

Feel free to weigh in. Your comments do not necessarily have to be used in the article. I will ask your permission before using your comments.

Thanks in advance for helping this writer (and her readers) with your input.

 

[Solidlyhere]

Temptation: a sticky problem.

Mostly, I deal with temptation by de-valuing the thing I am tempted by.
Temptation arises because a particular thing seems very important to do.
I convince myself that the tempted thing is NOT important to do.

So, if I have a burning desire to argue with someone about an opinion I have, I look at the frustration I will have while trying to "convert" this person to my perspective (and frustration if she chooses to ignore my opinion). I look at the possible injury to our relationship, if I pound-away on her about it. Most of the time I will realize that our relationship is worth MUCH more than a silly opinion I have (no matter how strongly I believe in it).

 

[mswrite]

Devalue the temptation! I like that Solidlyhere. Thanks for your input.

 

[Apollo Celestio]

I think i've used all of those on multiple occasions, it helps. And I pray(see, usin one right now!) that i'm kept from temptation to begin with!

 

[1Newcreation]

Hello,

I wondered if I could get some advice from you all on handling temptation. I am a freelance writer working on an article for a weekly Christian magazine on this subject. I would be so grateful to hear what works for people as they deal with temptation in their day-to-day lives.


I'd be especially interested in hearing from you if you've used any of these tactics when faced with temptation:

• Prayer
• Sharing your struggle with others
• Removing yourself from a temptation zone or removing the temptation from your life
• Replacing a bad habit with a good habit
• Thinking about the temptations you've already overcome

Feel free to weigh in. Your comments do not necessarily have to be used in the article. I will ask your permission before using your comments.

Thanks in advance for helping this writer (and her readers) with your input.

Yes I too have implemented the above. And I do the following. Definitely focusing on Jesus, reading the Word of God daily to arm myself before being faced with the days events.

Also recalling scripture in the midst of temptation.

I try and remember that if I give into temptation then I am satisfying my desires of the flesh and not honoring God, I am to die to self and live for Christ. Of course I sometimes fail, but it is good to think and ask myself does this speech/action glorify God, am I obeying His Word?

We need to consider the possible consequences of giving into the temptation.

It is good to remind ourselves of the emotions or conviction we felt the last time we gave into temptation, reminder of the trouble it caused, especially if it is a repeat offense. It can be a good reason to divert and not cave in.


So to summarise in addition to the first list:
Focus on Jesus
Read/remember scripture
Ask myself questions
Consider the consequences.
Remember past failures and the trouble it caused.

1newcreation

 

[soldoutdancer4]

I do devaluation(Props solidlyhere)sometimes. But when I get that nagging in my mind to have mean thoughts, i focus on what I feel like doing and then say "STOP" to clear my mind.

 

[janny108]

Temptation: a sticky problem.

Mostly, I deal with temptation by de-valuing the thing I am tempted by.
Temptation arises because a particular thing seems very important to do.
I convince myself that the tempted thing is NOT important to do.

So, if I have a burning desire to argue with someone about an opinion I have, I look at the frustration I will have while trying to "convert" this person to my perspective (and frustration if she chooses to ignore my opinion). I look at the possible injury to our relationship, if I pound-away on her about it. Most of the time I will realize that our relationship is worth MUCH more than a silly opinion I have (no matter how strongly I believe in it).

That really helps to devalue it. I find this true with celebrities sometimes I get "attracted " to.
Jan

 

[mswrite]

Thanks you guys! I'm thinking of using some of your responses in a sidebar (kind of like a text box) in the article. Keep the answers coming! And give an example if you have one.

 

[myhomiesneedjesus]

temptation sucks. i find it very, very difficult. it is harder if your friends are doing things that you are tempted by.

i used to be a lust filled 16 year old but since i became a christian (since nov' 06) i have prayed about it. i no longer lust...i have prayed about it and looking at porn doesn't appeal to me.

with drugs, i used to do magic mushrooms and skunk. i loved to smoke skunk and toked during school lunch times with my friend. i find skunk my biggest tempter because i love it so much. i haven't touched it for 6 months but as i have many stoner friends, it is so tempting. i don't personally think that drugs are even a big deal as long as they aren't crack or heroin so it is strange that i stopped. i think what made me stop was because skunk made me completely wasted for the whole day when i wanted God to use me anytime of the day. Also, many of my friends knew that i was a christian and they perceived a christian who toked as a hypercrite. So i wanted to quit to make them aware that Jesus is real because He changes people. I also stopped it because it is an inconvenient truth for many stoners that buying weed is directly funding criminal organisations. I guess I thought more about the more long term/indirect influences. Lastly, I also stopped because where I live, weed is expensive at £20-£25 ($50) for an 1/8th. I feel stupid and guilty and selfish buying weed for that street price when 50p helps give an African dude the necessary eye medicine to prevent him from going blind through a charity called "sightsavers". So instead of buying 1/8th of skunk, if you gave that money to sightsavers, potentially 50 people could have their eyesight saved. I now prefer to not toke and give that money to charity.

Concerning drink, well...i stopped for similar reasons. Plus i personally don't like hangovers.

I have recently got more involved in sport like rugby, football, running and mountainboarding. This helps keep me from doing loadsa drink and drugs because I consider the ill effects on my body more.

I reckon that one can overcome certain temptations by oneself due to stuff like positive thinking or determination to quit (like smoking). But for other temptations, I believe we need Jesus. And ever since asking Jesus into my life I have been thinking more about what He would prefer and what would please God.
I know that God can change peoples hearts because He has changed mine and my disinterest in porn is testiment to that.

Nonetheless, temptation is so tough and it wears me out. Sometimes I get so disheartened and I feel like is following Jesus even worth it. I do believe that following Jesus is worth it though because He loves us all so much and I wanna be with Him. So, that helps me stop succumbing to temptations too.


Peace Out
GoD BlesS

 

[1Newcreation]

temptation sucks. i find it very, very difficult. it is harder if your friends are doing things that you are tempted by.

i used to be a lust filled 16 year old but since i became a christian (since nov' 06) i have prayed about it. i no longer lust...i have prayed about it and looking at porn doesn't appeal to me.

with drugs, i used to do magic mushrooms and skunk. i loved to smoke skunk and toked during school lunch times with my friend. i find skunk my biggest tempter because i love it so much. i haven't touched it for 6 months but as i have many stoner friends, it is so tempting. i don't personally think that drugs are even a big deal as long as they aren't crack or heroin so it is strange that i stopped. i think what made me stop was because skunk made me completely wasted for the whole day when i wanted God to use me anytime of the day. Also, many of my friends knew that i was a christian and they perceived a christian who toked as a hypercrite. So i wanted to quit to make them aware that Jesus is real because He changes people. I also stopped it because it is an inconvenient truth for many stoners that buying weed is directly funding criminal organisations. I guess I thought more about the more long term/indirect influences. Lastly, I also stopped because where I live, weed is expensive at £20-£25 ($50) for an 1/8th. I feel stupid and guilty and selfish buying weed for that street price when 50p helps give an African dude the necessary eye medicine to prevent him from going blind through a charity called "sightsavers". So instead of buying 1/8th of skunk, if you gave that money to sightsavers, potentially 50 people could have their eyesight saved. I now prefer to not toke and give that money to charity.

Concerning drink, well...i stopped for similar reasons. Plus i personally don't like hangovers.

I have recently got more involved in sport like rugby, football, running and mountainboarding. This helps keep me from doing loadsa drink and drugs because I consider the ill effects on my body more.

I reckon that one can overcome certain temptations by oneself due to stuff like positive thinking or determination to quit (like smoking). But for other temptations, I believe we need Jesus. And ever since asking Jesus into my life I have been thinking more about what He would prefer and what would please God.
I know that God can change peoples hearts because He has changed mine and my disinterest in porn is testiment to that.

Nonetheless, temptation is so tough and it wears me out. Sometimes I get so disheartened and I feel like is following Jesus even worth it. I do believe that following Jesus is worth it though because He loves us all so much and I wanna be with Him. So, that helps me stop succumbing to temptations too.


Peace Out
GoD BlesS

Praise God for the changes and the work He has done in you so far. What a great testimony.
Yes Jesus is worth it. You are doing so well, it will get easier and the blessings of God will be upon you. God is faithful and will honour you for your faithfulness. keep your eyes on the prize. Continue to store up your treasures in heaven.

I love the wisdom you have gained in regards to instead of spending your money on useless drugs you give money to a charity that help people with their sight. That is so amazing. God is so good for helping you and showing you these wonderful things. I am going to check out that charity myself. It sounds a worthwhile cause.

an extra hug for you.

In Christ
1newcreation

 

[swee]

Avoidance always works for me.

 

[mswrite]

I'm interested in your answer, "avoidance," Swee. Can you give an example?

 

[PureLove]

Hello,

I wondered if I could get some advice from you all on handling temptation. I am a freelance writer working on an article for a weekly Christian magazine on this subject. I would be so grateful to hear what works for people as they deal with temptation in their day-to-day lives.


I'd be especially interested in hearing from you if you've used any of these tactics when faced with temptation:

• Prayer
• Sharing your struggle with others
• Removing yourself from a temptation zone or removing the temptation from your life
• Replacing a bad habit with a good habit
• Thinking about the temptations you've already overcome

Feel free to weigh in. Your comments do not necessarily have to be used in the article. I will ask your permission before using your comments.

Thanks in advance for helping this writer (and her readers) with your input.

Its good to control the senses so the mind free and thoughts are just that, thoughts. Meditate on them but not live in them is what works for me

LoVe

 

[xeskayal]

I pray to God for forgiveness, try to replace bad habits with good habits, and think about temptations I have overcome. For me, a difficult thing to resist is the temptation to stay angry at and hold a grudge against people who have been mean to me. I try the best I can to follow the example that Jesus set and forgive people.

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

 

[janny108]

Replacing a bad habit with a good habit(s) is what I am working on. Now I'm more BUSY where I don't have time to be as lazy, procrastinate or daydream but I have to be vigilant about it.
Jan

 

[swee]

I'm interested in your answer, "avoidance," Swee. Can you give an example?

I used to drink and take recreational drugs but I knew somewhere I had hidden away that I was hurting myself and God. So I gave up my job, friends & associates and moved elsewhere. Now I don't have as much money, or as fun a social life but I am a bit more at peace with myself. Or maybe even less at peace with myself as I don't mask my turmoil any more, lol! But at least I am living authentically.

I know that sex outside marriage is not the right thing to do but I have not been married and HAVE been involved in relationships which have been sexual. So I became single and celibate.

Right now, I'm working on the smoking. Well, I'm not. But I should.

 

[sampa]

My biggest tempters have been men and the flesh. Being single doesn't help. The longest drawn out temptations lasted 4 months each. 2 different men in different years and places. 1999 and 2006.

I learned that the tempation started with thoughts. Not their charming words, their looks, their chemistry or something else.
Many times it followed being in bad company (even ones that called themselves Christians), what I put in my head (books, tv, internet, etc.), dishonesty, anger and the sin of unforgiveness, and so on. These things snowballed and led to my greatest temptations. Yes I overcame and saw great victory after, but I'd never want to repeat them, I almost lost my life.

Battlefield of the Mind by JOyce Meyers helped me the most through both temptations. Other opportunities have arrisen since then and I've had to choose to reject thoughts as they come.

1. But being girded with our full armor is one of the most important things in the battle. The word, prayer, faith, and so on.
2. Sleep, nutrition and exercise also key (we make poor choices when these aren't in balance)
3. Fellowship
4. Praise Music - even if your not a singer, it draws you in closer fellowship with the Lord.
5. Additionally, not necessary but helped. Sermons on tape or CD while in the car or long trips (I have a 60 mile commute to work) can really help. And Christian radio, even if you don't prefer it, just use it for the battle. CHOOSE to put things of Christ in you.

In Christ, Sampa

 

[janny108]

My biggest tempters have been men and the flesh. Being single doesn't help. The longest drawn out temptations lasted 4 months each. 2 different men in different years and places. 1999 and 2006.

I learned that the tempation started with thoughts. Not their charming words, their looks, their chemistry or something else.
Many times it followed being in bad company (even ones that called themselves Christians), what I put in my head (books, tv, internet, etc.), dishonesty, anger and the sin of unforgiveness, and so on. These things snowballed and led to my greatest temptations. Yes I overcame and saw great victory after, but I'd never want to repeat them, I almost lost my life.

Battlefield of the Mind by JOyce Meyers helped me the most through both temptations. Other opportunities have arrisen since then and I've had to choose to reject thoughts as they come.

1. But being girded with our full armor is one of the most important things in the battle. The word, prayer, faith, and so on.
2. Sleep, nutrition and exercise also key (we make poor choices when these aren't in balance)
3. Fellowship
4. Praise Music - even if your not a singer, it draws you in closer fellowship with the Lord.
5. Additionally, not necessary but helped. Sermons on tape or CD while in the car or long trips (I have a 60 mile commute to work) can really help. And Christian radio, even if you don't prefer it, just use it for the battle. CHOOSE to put things of Christ in you.

In Christ, Sampa

How did you get help with thoughts?
Jan

 

[sampa]

How did you get help with thoughts?
Jan

The first time around I hadn't really pursued it like I should have. It was the 2nd time around after I made my decision to walk away I knew some real HOUSE cleaning needed to be done. (this was in 2006)

#1 5-month sort of fast. Might say a sort of thought fast, rejecting all those things.

#2 filling myself with the word,
went on a large church search at the time also (denominational research and visited 20 churches over a wide area. Never would suggest this unless you are led, it can be very tiring and exhaust you to want to give up), ordered many CD's through firefighters for Christ & listened in my car.

#3 Praise Music and Christian Radio.

#4 filled my social schedule with Christian conferences and outings. Also time with Family.

#5 Did a 72page study on spiritual warfare I found online. Confessed a lot of sin I wasn't even aware of.

#6 Choosing to reject the thought each time it surfaced, not allowing the picture in my mind to progress.

#7 working on my health big time. Sleep, nutrition and exercise.

The lies and words in my mind didn't stop right away, they remained for a long time. Feelings of worthlessness and stuff. But the more and more we fill ourselves with things of Christ, the less foothold the devil has or shall I say thoughts that lead this way.

I struggled with Approval also all my life and I saw the first victory happen 4 months into the fast.
I can't say there's a formula, but I really think what we feed our minds has a lot to do with it.
I hope this helps.

In Christ, Sampa
PS. I must give credit where credit is due, the Holy Spirit. Not only my conselor, but my coach. Can't explain it, it's all God's grace from what I understand. The Word is living and breathing.