5 practical things to keep up your faith and punch temptation in the face!
You have done everything.
And by everything, I mean EVERYTHING. No amount of prayers, fasts, or counseling can get that weakness to disappear.
What do you do when temptation is so hard to control that it almost feels like an ugly creature that refuses to leave your side? Your prayer life is in shambles because of this and you’re too distracted.
When your temptation is driving you over the cliff, it’s time for you to switch on your beast mode.
You heard it right.
Okay, before most of you flinch at the thought of uttering the word ‘beast’, let me clarify that this post has nothing to do with the Book of Revelations! Interestingly, I had been going through some motivational quotes to prep me up for my daily workout, I came across this interesting phrase: Beast Mode. It seemed like a very tenacious motivational phrase for someone who refused to give up no matter what.
And that’s exactly the mindset that we as children of God need to possess.
If we have a mindset that was relentless, then we could actually defeat our weaknesses and ignore temptations. If we are able to display our tenacity in our career and health routine then there is no doubt that we are able to apply the same logic in our spiritual journey.
So in this post, I will give you 4 simple steps to knock you back to your spiritual senses!
Fact. Every now and then, we will come across something that’s going to throw us off our comfort seat of salvation. That’s how the life of a Christian usually unravels. The following scripture will make sense:
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV)
Persecution can be of all kinds. And the devil doesn’t mind using a variety of ammunition against us. Temptations are one of his strategies. But fear not, because the Bible also says:
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13, 14 (NKJV)
4 ways to do beat that Temptation:
1. Be Focused
First up, we need to be aware on what we are focusing on. Are you focused on the worldly thoughts and desires or on God? Apostle James surmises this very clearly:
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
James 1:14 (NKJV)
Noticed the phrase, drawn away? That simply means pulling away from God. Our desires play a major role in where it leads us. If we focus on our fleshly yearning and world conformity then it will lead us to corruption (See my previous post, Renew and Be Transformed). But if our focus is on the Father, our God then our heart will be naturally inclined to serve Him and be always reminded of His Word. To focus on God, we must abide in Him through prayer and Bible meditation. These are the prime methods we must enforce in our spiritual growth. It makes it easier to fight every temptation thrown at us.
2. Be Obsessed
I realized that if people can get obsessed with success, fortune or to gain physical fitness then we can channel such an obsession into our spiritual growth too. I can give you many examples of Biblical characters who were obsessed with God but the one man who stands out would be Daniel. He was a man who pertained to the Law of God, abiding by them irrespective of what the situation was.
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
Daniel 6:10(NKJV)
Moreover, God despises lukewarm Christians so having an attitude to live for Him would help us abide in Him and stay put.
I remember this one time I was going through much trials in my life. Almost every door was shut before me, leaving me resentful even towards God Himself. And during that time, I thought what does it matter now if I indulge in a bit of sin since God doesn’t care anyway? This was such a dangerous attitude to have and it nearly took me a lot of prayers to come back to where I was before. Thankfully to the Lord who is most merciful, I was able to bounce back before going wayward. I adopted this obsessive strategy to keep my relationship with Christ renewed and active. Remember, the devil always attacks you in your most vulnerable moment so staying close to Christ keeps you away from sin.
3. Please God
Often times, we see ourselves pleasing everyone around us except for God. Throughout the Bible, we see the secret ingredient to a successful relationship with Christ is our ability to please Him! The Bible says,
The Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.
Genesis 17:1 (NKJV)
In the 28th chapter of Deuteronomy, God makes it clear that He wants the Israelites to walk upright pleasing Him in their ways or their waywardness can lead to harsh punishment.
I think to focus on God and pleasing Him go hand in hand and they yield great rewards and keeps you from making wrong decisions. When you please God, you can almost hear His opinion in every move you make just like David consulted God in every decision he had made.
4. Push your Limits
Okay, so life in Christ is not stagnant but ever growing. That means we need to be a lifelong learner and willing to push the threshold that we think we can endure. As already mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:13 above, we see that every trial that is given to us has been predetermined. That means God knows our threshold level and He wants us to grow and mature in Him. But if we are not willing to push those limits we would never mature in Christ as He expects us to. Always have the mentality to become a better Christian than you were yesterday. Apostle Paul beautifully puts it below in the following verse:
Remember, you do not have to suffer in your temptations, there is a way out. The toughest ones always lead to greatest testimonies encouraging others in Christ. I pray that you outshine your weaknesses. Remember what God replies to Apostle Paul in his infirmity:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
1 Corinthians 12:9(NKJV)
Practice these steps daily and let it become a part of your attitude in Christ!
God bless you.
