If there's one common thing among all Christians around the world aside from the love of God, it's going to be temptation. Every Christian gets tempted every once in a while, and at times many of us fall for it.
Sadly, many of us just keep falling for the same old temptation, even if the things that tempt us are so predictable. How can I say they are predictable? James 1:14 tells us so:
"But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed."
Wouldn't it be great to be able to overcome the temptations that we keep falling for? Like, once and for all, be able to set them aside and live a life of victory in Christ?
It's possible, friends. In Christ, it is possible.
Tips to Overcome
Friends, let me encourage you. We all get tempted, but the Lord Jesus Christ has promised that we can overcome:
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." (John 14:12)
If Christ Himself said we can do more than what He did, we should be encouraged to believe that we can overcome temptation and sin.
To help you with that, here are a few things you can do to overcome when you are tempted.
1) Quickly come to God
Instead of running away in condemnation, come to God quickly. God knows what you are going through. In fact, He knows what you will go through before you go through it, and He loves you, so you should come.
God understands you. Just come when you are tempted.
"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15-16)
2) Confess and repent
Next, don't give the enemy a chance to engrave the sinful thought in your mind and then plant condemnation in your head. As soon as you start to think of sinful thoughts, take those thoughts captive and confess it before God. 1 John 1:9 tells us,
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Repent of your sin, and bear fruit in keeping with repentance (see Luke 3:8).
3) Stand on God and resist the devil
After confessing and repenting of sin, receive God's forgiveness and stand on it! Don't allow the devil to get a foothold in your head with either a condemning accusation or another temptation. Don't give him room because he has no right to you. Only God has a right to you, man of God.
James 4:7-8 tells us,
"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
In Closing
Friends, Christ overcame sin and death for us. If He defeated sin, we can overcome temptation. He has won the victory for us, and all we need to do is to stand on the truth of His finished work on Calvary and the grave.
"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession." (Hebrews 4:14)
