“Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” Matthew 4:5-7
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." l Corinthians 10:13
Until the day when God calls us home, where we have our glorified, resurrected bodies, every believer must face the daily warring between the flesh and the spirit. Lord willing, as we walk in the spirit and strive to be obedient to our Savior we will have more good days where the spirit wins out over the flesh. We’d be naive to think that there won’t be days where the other side claims victory.
I cherish The Lord’s prayer and believe it should be near and dear to the heart of every Christian. Volumes have been written about each portion of Christ’s precious word to the multitudes and disciples in the sermon on the mount. As we begin each new day in prayer, I believe we should remember our Savior’s admonition in the Lord’s prayer to lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
For a Christian, success often means growing closer to God. A key aspect in this pursuit is the fight against temptation. So what can you do when you’re tempted? For the Christian wanting to overcome temptation to sin, consider these biblical strategies to grow in holiness before God.
For the purposes of this devotional, we need to start by defining temptation. As I study God’s Word, it seems like we can define temptation as anything that influences you to disobey God. Truly any situation you face in life will either promote your growth or promote your destruction. The determining factor is what you decide in your heart to do.Will you obey God and draw near to Him, or will you rebel against God and run from Him? You are not a passive victim here. Instead of choosing to sin, resolve to implement the following strategies to overcome temptation in your life.
As I was putting this together, I began to reflect on the life and times of the great St Augustine. I find that when it comes to some of our heroes of the faith, we like to think of them as the finest of saints. The truth is that they were men and women who were susceptible to temptation, and to the devil and his minions who did their best to devour them. When St. Augustine was on his deathbed, he asked his friends to have a small banner of Psalm 32 put right next to his bedside, where he could read and meditate on it everyday. Augustine took the greatest of comfort as he was dying knowing that he could confess his transgressions before the Lord, with the assurance that his sins would be covered. This champion of the Christian faith had serious struggles with sin and temptation. What do you think was the source of his greatest deliverance? Let’s take a closer look.
A Man of Like Passions
St. Augustine was able to overcome his addiction to lust by reading passages of the Bible.
I bring up St. Augustine because he wasn’t always a saint, and for much of his life he was addicted to sexual sin. In his Confessions, he describes his lustful addiction as a “chain.”
“My will was the enemy master of, and thence had made a chain for me and bound me. Because of a perverse will was lust made; and lust indulged in became custom; and custom not resisted became necessity. By which links, as it were, joined together (whence I term it a chain), did a hard bondage hold me enthralled.”
It was difficult for him to break the chains of his sexual addictions, but a turning point for him was in feasting on the Bible.
He explains how one day he cried out to God in anguish and asked God to remove from his heart his lustful habits. “I flung myself down, how, I know not, under a certain fig-tree, giving free course to my tears, and the streams of my eyes gushed out..I sent up these sorrowful cries — “How long, how long? Tomorrow, and tomorrow? Why not now? Why is there not this hour an end to my uncleanness?”…I was saying these things and weeping in the most bitter contrition of my heart, when, lo, I heard the voice as of a boy or girl, I know not which, coming from a neighboring house, chanting, and oft repeating, “Take up and read; take up and read.”
This voice startled him and he immediately searched out the book, which was a collection of scripture passages.
“So, restraining the torrent of my tears, I rose up, interpreting it no other way than as a command to me from Heaven to open the book, and to read the first chapter I should light upon … I grasped, opened, and in silence read that paragraph on which my eyes first fell — “Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying; but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:13-14) No further would I read, nor did I need; for instantly, as the sentence ended — by a light, as it were, of security infused into my heart — all the gloom of doubt vanished away.”
It was a monumental moment in St. Augustine’s life, and while it didn’t cure him of his temptations, it started him off on the path of virtue.
He would continue reaching for the Bible, and began to devour it more and more each day. Slowly, and with God’s grace, he was able to overcome his sexual sins and embrace a life of chastity.
I have many of my nearest and dearest friends who are serving lengthy prison sentences because of sexually based crimes many years ago. And they would willingly amidst that so much of it began with an addiction to pornography.
So many have become giants of the faith and look to be used by God to help younger inmates who are where they have been. I’ve shared with them St. Augustine's story, so they may likewise use it to help others. Anytime we can effectively point others to regular, ongoing reading, studying and meditating on God’s Word will always have great dividends, just like it did for St. Augustine.
The good news is that freedom is possible through the grace of God. Let’s look now at several steps every believer can take as we further explore the subject of temptation.
Be Reconciled to God
According to the Bible, your first step in overcoming temptation is to turn to Him in repentance and faith. Acknowledge that only Jesus the Christ can make you right before God. He died in your place to satisfy the just wrath of God against your sin, and He rose from the dead to prove the debt was paid.
Your first step in overcoming temptation is to turn to Him in repentance and faith.
You see, apart from Christ, all people are enslaved to sin. We obey sin’s desires and attempt to live apart from God’s righteous commandments. But “thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:17–18).
As a believer in Jesus, give thanks that “the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation” (2 Peter 2:9). How do you find that rescue? Turn away from sin and turn to God. Remember that “we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15–16). If ever there was a favorite passage in the New Testament, it is this beloved verse.
Confess your faults to Him and commit to repentance each day. As a slave of righteousness, seek to please God in everything you think, say, and do. Pray for His protection and strength to endure the temptations you face daily.
Meditate on God’s Word
The unsaved world around you entices and even pressures you to follow along with its wickedness. The Apostle Paul highlights the essence of the battle and its solution: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
How can you “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”? By filling your mind with the word of God, the Bible. The psalmist said, “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). Remember how the Lord Jesus fought the temptations of Satan by repeatedly quoting the Scripture He had hidden in His heart (Matthew 4:1–11). Take a few minutes, reading and meditating on everything in Psalm 119. Over and over and over again, this glorious Psalm points us to the blessings of walking in the law of the Lord and keeping his testimonies.
Many years ago I memorized the bellowed words of the prophet Jeremiah and have asked countless inmates over the years to commit this verse to memory. “And Your words were found and I did eat them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of your heart.” (Jeremiah 15:16) There never has been and there never will be anything more powerful and life-changing than the Word of God. I’ve said so many times that in those early months after my diagnosis, when I couldn't understand the relentless 24/7 burning, it was the soothing balm of my wife reading from the book of Psalms that sustained me.
The Apostle Paul gives two parallel commands about spiritual growth: “be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18) and “let the word of Christ richly dwell within you” (Colossians 3:16). That is, as you fill your heart with God’s word, the Holy Spirit enables you to obey God’s commands. So, when you “walk by the Spirit … you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
Sin is deceptive: it promises what it does not give and gives what it never promised.
Sin is deceptive: it promises what it does not give and gives what it never promised. Satan does his best to make sure of that. A treasured quote from the Puritan Thomas Brooks almost 400 years ago. In his book “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices,” – he said, "Satan shows you the bait, but hides the hook.” That says it all!
Conquer deceit with the truth of God’s word. If you have a specific temptation that you frequently face, be sure to memorize scripture that confronts that sin directly. I’m always telling prisoners that when they come under great temptation, have specific memorized verses, reciting them over and over again. Satan will flee, as there is nothing he hates more than God’s Word. Also, rest in the knowledge that satisfaction and joy come from God Himself: “You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever” (Psalm 16:11).
Deny Ungodliness and Cultivate Godliness
This side of eternity, you will always be subject to temptation in some respect, for they are “common to man” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Watch yourself! Temptation succeeds when your heart is unprepared for it. So, “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Romans 13:14). Take control of your lusts (or desires)—do not let them control you.
It is not enough only to deny ungodly desires; you must also find your godly desires fulfilled in the Lord.
“Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).
Draw near to Him and give Him thanks for the many good gifts He showers upon His people (James 1:17).
Be ready at all times to “deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:12). Strive against sin in your life and seek to “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Colossians 3:17).
Avoid Tempting Situations (Don’t make provision for sin!)
The Lord Jesus taught His disciples to ask God, “do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13). If you ask God to help you avoid temptation, then you should also be vigilant to stay away from tempting situations. Millions of men have become addicted to pornography because they have made it easily accesible. That person doesn’t need a spiritual giant to tell them that the first step is to remove the computer from the privacy of a bedroom and put it in a room frequented by everyone.
If you're struggling with sexual sin and temptation, avoid the perilous path of the careless man who unsurprisingly walked into sin with an adulterous woman (Proverbs 7:6–10). Read and study the nine chapters in a row of Proverbs where Solomon drives home the grave warnings of the smooth, seductive adulterous woman. As you grow in grace and maturity in God’s word, you will see that net before you and avoid it completely.
If you do find yourself in danger of sin, get out of there quickly!
Stay away from those who try to influence you to do evil.The psalmist David says, “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!” (Psalm 1:1). David’s son Solomon reiterated this warning: “Do not enter the path of the wicked and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; turn away from it and pass on” (Proverbs 4:14–15). He also declared one of my favorite proverbs that I use all the time in prison ministry, to every inmate, in or out of prison. “He who walks with wise men will become wise, but a companion of fools will be destroyed.” Street talk for “you become like those you hang around.”
If you do find yourself in danger of sin, get out of there quickly! As a Christian, you are to “flee immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18) and to “flee from youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22). Be like Joseph, who ran out from the adulterous advances of his master’s wife (Genesis 39:12). Escape from tempting situations, locations, and people. Do not yield to your ungodly desires and make every effort to subdue them for righteousness’ sake (Matthew 5:29–30).
You might need to abandon friendships with those who tempt you toward evil. I tell men this all the time, especially after their release from prison. As hard as it can be, there are some people you just can’t let back into your circle of friends. If you don’t heed that advice, you may soon find that you are reaping what you’ve sown. Your relationships are serious. The Bible warns you, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals’” (1 Corinthians 15:33). While you might be pointing these unsaved friends to God, take care that they do not lead you away from “seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).
Doing Our Best To Be Transparent To God And Others
Recognize that your sin is fundamentally directed against God. When his master’s wife attempted to seduce him, Joseph rightly protested, “How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).
Agree with God that sin is wicked and deserves His punishment. After David’s compound sins of adultery and murder, he lamented before God, “I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge” (Psalm 51:3–4).
Tell God about your sin and the temptations that you have faced. Rejoice in His promise that when “we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Ask Him to help you succeed next time you face a similar situation. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you can sin and that it will somehow be unknown to God. Memorize scriptures that will help you. Carry them around in your heart and on your tongue. Remember and commit to memory the words of Moses in Numbers 32:23, – “but if you do not do so, then take note, and be sure your sin will find you out.”
Also, consider this blessing and warning: “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion” (Proverbs 28:13). Confess your sin to God, but you might also need to confess your sin to others that you have offended. If you have repented of your sin, ask for forgiveness so you can be reconciled with one another.
You can also benefit from the encouragement of others who are seeking to honor God with their lives (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12). As you “flee from youthful lusts” you must also “pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22). Seek accountability with trusted partners and invite them to help you in your spiritual growth.
Keep an Eternal Perspective
You are accountable to God. While you might be able to hide your sin from other people, know that “the eyes of the LORD are in every place, watching the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).
Would you feel comfortable quenching your ungodly desire if Christ were with you at the time? And He is present with you through His Spirit. So, avoid sin and “do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption,” when Christ returns (Ephesians 4:30).
The preacher of Ecclesiastes exhorts you to shun a short-sighted “under the sun” mentality and instead to remember what happens in God’s eternity. He says, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14).
Choose eternal rewards over temporal pleasure that is contrary to God’s plan for you. The long-term rewards of excellence and integrity are more than worth the effort!
"If you will tell me when God permits a Christian to lay aside his armor, I will tell you when Satan has left off temptation. Like the old knights in war time, we must sleep with helmet and breastplate buckled on, for the arch-deceiver will seize our first unguarded hour to make us his prey. The Lord keep us watchful in all seasons, and give us a final escape from the jaw of the lion and the paw of the bear." ~ Charles Spurgeon
From: Fight the Good Fight of Faith & Life Journal: By Gregg Harris
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