THE BEST SPIRITUAL WAY TO FIGHT TEMPTATION

[Gordon 7]

Ephesians 2 CEV In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God. 2 You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn't obey God.”

In the modern cotton candy church, satan is ignored. Everything is good. He does not have “Power over everyone who doesn't obey God.” But the Bible just said that he does.

When we blatantly sin, satan has power over us. Because of this:

#1 It is wise to gain the habit of rapid repentance. Consider working on a higher degree of rapid repentance daily.

#2 Consider reminding yourself daily, “When satan has power over me... Joy flies out the window.”

#3 Sin is a way bigger problem than we think. Satan having power over us is a way bigger problem than we think.

#4 Purpose is greatly weakened when satan has power over us.

The mad cycle: Sin which allows satan to have power over us, wearing us down. Then once satan has unlimited time to have power over us, we have no strength against temptation against our main habit. Consider praying:

“Father, instantly show me the sins I ignore. I commit to rapid repentance against these sins.”

Second, what changes when we fight to put Jesus on the throne always:

#1 Satan loses his power.

#2 We have Light In our lives.

#3 We experience Jesus great love.

#4 We start to have power over satan and sin.

#5 With rapid repentance of all sin, power increases. With Christ's power increasing, we start to gain power to fight our main habit.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

Preparation is a huge key to quitting. Let's look at two people trying to quit.

Alfred has enrolled in Bible school. He badly wants to quit. Every day he prays three times. “Father, take away this habit.”

Aaron feels darkness and depression in his life. He wants to quit. Every day he:

#1 Prays: “Father, help me to turn from lust, and fill me with Your love, 10 times.

#2 He has a scripture of the week (About lust) that he reads twice a day.

Romans 13:14 ESV But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

#3 Daily he copies David's recovery plan by praising the Lord at least 10 times.

#4 He prays 2x: “Father, remind me about the destruction my habit costs me.

#5 Joseph is his hero. Daily he says: “Joseph ran from lust. I will run as well.”

#6 Daily Bible reading is his habit.

#7 He spends 10 minutes daily praying about his purpose and God's will.

Quitting is often mathematical. Aaron is 7 times more prepared to quit. Alfred, despite his high motivation, is not prepared. Be prepared.

 

[Gordon 7]

Satan always uses the right “bait” when tempting you. He knows if anger will lead you to ______, if TV will lead you to ________, if wrong friends will lead you to __________. Today, consider setting hourly alarms on your phone to remind you to pray:

“Father, show me what “bait” satan is using on me. Help me to run from his bait.”

In humility, I need to realize... I am often out of God's exact will. When I am in that state, I need to remember to start doing the things God wants me to do to get back in His exact will.

A lack of love shows me that I am out of God's will. Anger, discontentment, and a variety of other emotions may also be indications. When I go down those roads I am running from joy.

Second, what I flirt with, I will likely fall for. Consider praying:

“Father, show me what I flirt with?”

Consider praying this often because flirting leads to wrong actions, and wrong actions have consequences.

Go to war with wrong fantasies, high-risk TV, and a worship of wrongful pleasures. They lead to trouble. You will reap what you sow. Consider sowing more Bible study and prayer. Then you will reap good things.

Third, the best time to win the war against anger and _______ is before it begins.

Psalm 119:12 I have made up my mind to obey your laws forever, no matter what!”

#1 Our lives “always” improve when we agree with this verse.

#2 We struggle to agree that this verse is “always” true.

#3 The more we read this verse, the more we will understand that our lives will always improve when we agree with this verse.

Fourth, think new thoughts:

Philippians 2:4 Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing.

#1 Care about others, be interested in others.

#2 Care about souls. I have been praying often lately:

“Father, help me to care about souls.”

#3 Consider praying:

“Father, take away this anger and help me to love others.

Finally, think often about eternity and heaven. That's where we want to go.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

Deuteronomy 28 lists a bunch of bad things that happen if God's laws are ignored. Bad things in the city, bad things in the field, bad things with your stuff, bad things with your health, bad things with your land, bad things with your money, bad things when you come in, bad things when you go out. The chapter goes on to mention perishing quicky, and being smitten with consumption.

This is a very incomplete list, the chapter just goes on and on with bad things that happen when God's laws are ignored.

The problem is... If the church acts for even one minute that this could even be remotely true, it would be almost completely empty.

Second, everyone has their opinion about a chapter like this one. But there is good news. We don't need to have a deep understanding of this chapter... If you want to be blessed, this chapter tells you “Exactly” how to start to be blessed. If you want to avoid bad things happening, this chapter tells you exactly how to avoid them.

Third, my advice is extreme. Things like to pray “Father, help me to turn from lust, and help me to go to war with sin.” I say things like considering, “Praying this every hour for the next two days.” Setting an alarm on your phone to remind yourself, etc.

Fourth, why do I believe this chapter? Because, 10 years ago I read it and I realized that my life had become many of the bad things listed in this chapter.

Fifth, I quit 3 years ago. Every month after I quit I had less bad things in my life.

Blessings

Now my life is rapidly being filled with the great things listed in this chapter. The Bible was right again.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

In the Psalms David constantly praised the Lord. Consider making praising the Lord a constant habit, it leads toward joy. The more joy you have, the more you will resist bad stuff because now you don't want to lose your joy.

David had great confidence in his God. He had a huge belief that God's ways were best (Obviously with a couple of massive slip-ups that caused massive destruction). Consider praying:

“Father, help me to trust Your ways and Your laws. I do believe that they are best, help me to improve.”

David had a proper “Fear of God.” When he lived that way great things happened. When he lost his fear and sinned, bad (Really bad) things happened. David wrote:

“Psalm 2:11 ESV Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.”

Other chapters say that we should strive to increase our fear of the Lord. Why? When David feared the Lord, life was great. When he didn't...

Proverbs 28:14 ESV Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.” Consider praying:
“Father, show me why fearing You is wisdom.”

Finally, these are two killer habits for bad habits. Consider striving to make them your habits.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

The Bible says “In all circumstances, put on the shield of faith.” My parents always made everything about God. Annoying to a kid sure, but they were obeying this verse.

Second, a Roman shield was large, and when used with other shields could protect the soldiers from flaming arrows. The shields formed an enclosure behind which they would be safe.

Third, faith always says, “God's ways are right, and satan's temptations are wrong, are lies, and will lead to big time trouble.

Fourth, giving in to temptation is saying that satan is right, and that he has something better than what God has promised. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to turn from lust, help me to remember that You have promised better things for me if I do things Your way.”

Since I quit my life has been way better. Five times better. The Bible was right again.

Fifth, satan will always offer short-term “Instant gratification.” God states His promises clearly, and says, “Have faith, continue on, and you will eventually see the promises fulfilled, and you will begin to have joy. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to think “Long-term.”

Sixth, with temptation, consider praying:

“I will do things God's way.”

Finally, consider reading the December 10th article from this thread. Then decide how will you make new habits in the area of faith.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

Running from sin means that we recognize sin “As the enemy,” and we instantly go the opposite way.

#1 With a tempting thought think, “This is the enemy.”

#2 Have a plan for new thoughts in advance. The Bible says to pursue “Righteousness, faith, love and peace.” This passage gives us 4 prayers:

“Father, that thought is the enemy. Help me to pursue righteousness.”

“Father, that thought is the enemy. Help me to pursue faith.”

“Father, that thought is the enemy. Help me to pursue love.”

“Father, that thought is the enemy. Help me to pursue peace.”

Running from sin is a great habit, and it goes to war with bad habits.

Finally, consider finding a technique to use to make these prayers remembered, available, and ready for use. Doing that is running from sin.

For the complete article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

Today in my daily devotion I read Philippians 2:12:

“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

This is done by:

#1 Daily devotions, reading the Bible. The more chapters the better.

#2 Taking sin as serious as God takes it, then going to war with it.

#3 Specific prayers to go to war with sin habits. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to love and help people more than I love pleasure.” Or

“Father, help me to fight lust always and help me to be patient.”

“Father, help me to turn from lust, and remind me to work out my salvation with fear and trembling.”

#4 Watch Utube sermons on overcoming sin habits.

#5 In humility consider often saying, “Father, Your commands lead me toward joy.”

#6 Why do I need to “Work it out?” Because I get off track. When I reverse my course and do things God's way, I get back on the right track.

Finally, just like Eve, I am easily fooled by the evil one. When I focus on these things, his tricks are obvious.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

#1 Darkness invading, Light receding

#2 Blessing receding, problems increasing

#3 Micro-pleasure popping, long-term joy disappearing

#4 What one wants, not what one needs

#5 An emptying of the soul

#6 A gateway for the evil one into one's life

#7 A stop sign for God

#8 A road to nowhere

To stop we need to find something new to think about.

To stop, go to war with negative emotions like anxiety, anger, frustration, and a dozen others. Simply do a Google search “Verses anxiety,” or verses _______, fill in your negative emotion in the blank. Then study, pray over and quote the verses you need. When you are less stressed and depressed, you fight better.

Finally, consider picking new habits you will work on today. New habits equal new power for quitting.

 

[Gordon 7]

Insist on finding God. Some say, “He is right there.” Sure, behind 3 miles of garbage or distractions filling my mind.

David (When he was right) praised God for 15, 30, or 45 minutes per day. He did this:

#1 Because it started him on a path toward joy.

#2 The Bible says to do it.

#3 God deserves the praise.

#4 Praise is saying “Thank you” for being a great God.

#5 Praise invites God's presence.

#6 It starts to lift our spirit and mood.

#7 It takes our minds off of our problems, allowing us to focus on His greatness, and plans.

#8 It starts to “Fix” our broken minds. Then we can more easily follow His ways, which will then lead to blessing.

What if you replace 20% of your bad thoughts with praise? Note: Even after the bad thought has started, you can repent and praise God. Just stop the bad thought, and say, “Father, I am so sorry.” Then say “Praise the Lord,” a few times.

What if you replace 50% of your bad thoughts with praise? What if you replace 99% of your bad thoughts with praise? The more you do it, the easier it is to quit.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

My goal is to pray at least 100 times daily:
“Father, fill me with Your love.” Why? Because the Bible says:

1 John 4:8 ESV Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Second, we need to “Know God” in a greater way to quit. Being filled with love is a top ten technique for quitting.

Third, the Bible says:

Luke 6:35 ESV But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
God's standard of love is way above ours. We struggle to love other Christians when they go to the “other” church.

Also, Jesus says to love your enemies. I am praying about loving my enemies. What I have found is that it is shocking how helpful it is to pray about loving your enemies. Jesus was right again.

Fourth, consider praying:

“Father, help me to love and help people more than I love pleasure.”

Finally, consider pasting your favorite verses on love into a Google doc or Word file and printing them out to study and pray over them. I already have one page and I am planning a second one.

If we fill our minds with good things, we don't have as much time to think about the bad things.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

What if someday in heaven someone walks up to me and says: I read your article called “Be ready.” It inspired me to take a notebook and write 9 quitting statements in the left-hand column.

#1 Turn from lust. I then filled the main section with its initials TFL 100's of times.

#2 Run from sin. I then filled the main section with its initials RFS 100's of times.

#3 Care about souls. I then filled the main section with its initials CAS 100's of times.

#4 We need to “See the evil and hide,” rather than proceeding and paying the penalty (Proverbs 22:3) See the evil and hide: SEAH.

#5 Prepare for temptation: PFT.

#6 Avoid temptation: AT.

#7 I will learn the habit of praising the Lord. PTL.

#8 Reject and replace bad thoughts: R&R.

#9 Be ready to screen your phone (from tempting things). SYP.

What if you are obsessed with writing down, and/or repeating these things?

#1 Your success will increase.

#2 Your mind will be renewed.

#3 You will start to have peace.

#4 You will start to have joy.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

To allow no openings:

#1 Review your plan for quitting daily.

#2 Remember the destruction. Consider praying:
“Father, show me the destruction that this sin causes.”

#3 Stay busy. Consider praying:
“Father, show me what You want me to do.”

#4 Study the fruits of the Spirit.

#5 Consider praying to increase in love “All of the time.”

#6 Keep your life sealed from destruction by going to war against sin so that satan can't come in (10-21-22 article).

#7 Say every day: “I am fully committed To quitting.”

#8 Run from risky entertainment, run from the wrong places, run from the wrong people, and work ruthlessly on changing the way you think.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

Here is a list of clean (decide for yourself) shows on Netflix.

Highway to Heaven

• When Calls the Heart
• Tidying Up with Marie Kondo
• NCIS series (violence)
• Heartland
• Sweet Magnolias
• The Crown
• Anne of Green Gables
• Gilmore Girls
• Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Sister, Sister
• Crash Landing On You
• The Great British Baking Show
• H2O Just Add Water
• Nailed It!
• Pawn Stars
• Free Reign
• Fuller House

For momremades full list for 2024 click here.

Here are the highlights of things to do from the "Watching clean TV helps" articles:

#1 Don't say, “I don't care about the destruction caused by watching wrong things.” God wants you to care about doing things His way. And His way leads to light and the beginning of joy in our lives. So take a line from the Lord's prayer and say instead, “I care that Your will be done.” Say, “I want to live a stable life and I want to begin to have some self-control.”

#2 We are commanded to worship God. And worshiping a beautiful woman (who is doing bad things) is the opposite of worshiping Him. For example: We find some show on Netflix that has a real looker, and the story is not bad either. Then your new favorite star does a very explicit scene.

At that point, it is best to forward fast or shut it off. If lust is overwhelming you, start studying scripture until control is regained.

#3 Praise the Lord while you are watching TV or a movie. Why? Because praising God was one of the reasons that you were created. David wrote in Psalm 113:1 Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, Praise the name of the Lord.”
Secondly, TV stinks if we snub the Lord when we watch it.

#4 Consider always praying to turn from lust every time you turn on the TV, every time you start a show, and every time a scene changes, giving you a clue that risky things are about to happen.

#5 Consider making it a habit to pray for 2 or 3 minutes before picking a new show to watch (especially on streaming services). Doing so acknowledges God, and it may help us to be more careful and wiser.
High-risk TV and movies have led to several hundred million falls. Give God His proper respect by praying first and by praying while the show is playing. He is watching also.

#6 The truth is... watching TV while maintaining a correct relationship with Jesus is the most entertaining way to watch TV. Why? Because, once we choose sinful, short-term thrills, we can't really enjoy any TV shows anymore. They all start to stink because we have lost our peace.

Don't let high-risk TV ruin your life. Find clean options then think, pray, plan, and be ready to run to scripture if it suddenly overwhelms you.

#7 There are two aspects to watching TV in a more Godly way. First, avoid high-risk shows. Second, pray constantly while you watch. I pray:

“Father, help me to turn from lust,” 15-40 times while watching TV. If I sense a tempting situation coming, I pray it even more so that I am ready to turn instantly.

#8 Finally, don't even turn the TV on until you have completed your daily devotions and daily goal of how much time you will spend studying how to quit. Every time you discipline yourself, you are taking yet another step toward quitting.

#9 Don't stare at some sexualized body part on TV or in person. In my opinion, if you do... You will keep the habit. If you break the habit of staring, one of satan's top 10 tools to sink you is gone. Consider praying:

“Father, help me not to stare.” Often.

Have a plan for what to do when you have the opportunity to stare. I always turn away and praise the Lord.

#10 Pray often to “Be content” with clean TV.

As always, you have my permission to print out this article. For many, learning how to watch TV in a Godly way is a life-changer.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

We need to change the way we think because changing our thinking is the first step to changing our actions. Transformation changes us from emptiness to fullness.

The further away you get from God, the more trouble you are going to have in your life. Things will go wrong because you are not cooperating with your Creator, and you are not following God's plan for your life. On the flip side, the closer I get to God, the more my life will be transformed. Moses was so transformed that he was filled with light, a glow was upon him.

We get close to God by

#1 Saying: I don't want this version of my life. I am frustrated, I want change.

Jeremiah 29:13 “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.”

#2 Repent: Consider praying:

“Father, You are right, I am wrong, please help me.”

Isaiah reads, “Your sins have separated you from your God, and have hidden his face from you...”

#3 Put God first. Don't put money, stuff, success, or anything before God. Read your Bible first, pray first, make living your life God's way a high priority.

#4 Keep reading quitting articles until you feel the glow of God's love in your life again.

#5 Keep working on new habits until you feel the glow of God's love in your life for good. When you quit “The right way...” at some point you will say: “Life always improves when I do things God's way. I just need to do things His way all the time.”

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

I know someone who has pounded their addiction for 40 straight years and has lost 90% of everything. I hope I get the chance to say to him, “You would have more joy 30 days from now if you quit.”

Second, the amount of pleasure he gets from his addiction right now is ruined by a 5 to 1 margin by the problems the addiction has caused. So there is a 95% chance his pleasure would increase as well because his addiction has caused him to get less and less joy from anything else in life except from ______.

Third, never tell God your excuse for going back to your habit. 100% of us can find a good excuse. But there is one gigantic problem with excuses. When we give excuses we are saying: “God is not big enough to help me through these problems.”

Fourth, if you fall, say instead: “I am choosing to fall. I am not going to God for more help. I am aware of the destruction it “will” cause.

Fifth, since we will “always” be able to come up with a great excuse, is it even possible to quit if one keeps making excuses? Consider praying 5 times every day this week:

“Father, help me form the habit of “No excuses.” Help me to increase the habit of turning from thoughts of ________. Help me to seek Your long-term joy and pleasures.”

 

[joepanic]

Hi Gordon I am kind of curious as to the extent of your addiction and if you have beat it completly

 

[Gordon 7]

Hi Joe,
I was completely addicted, there was no chance I could quit. I was only able to quit after I really started doing a lot of things God's way. Now I have been free for about 1000 days and I have joy for the first time in my life.

 

[Gordon 7]

Today I am striving to pray about self-control 100 times. Today, consider praying about what you need self-control in. Next, find the right prayer to pray. With habits that are strongholds, we need to chop at the base of the habit to start to kill it. Praying, Father, give me self-control over _______ is good, but if you still think about the habit all the time, your prayer will rarely be answered. Instead, what if you pray, “Father, give me self-control over my constant thinking about _______.

Second, reject and replace those thoughts. With every wrong thought say, “Sorry, Lord, I praise You.” Read the Psalms and see how David “Always” praised the Lord. This is vital information because David was just like us...he had very limited self-control. But, when he worshipped and praised the Lord he had a great life. When he didn't... disaster.

James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Third, consider writing a short prayer from one of the verses for quitting. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to reject filthiness, and help me to receive the Word (The Bible).”

Fourth, consider setting an alarm on your phone for every 30 minutes, and praying your prayer (Based on one of these verses) with every alarm. If you are not working, consider quoting your verse. Quoting it is best, but the prayer is great when you are more busy.

Fifth, state the top 3 reasons why you should quit. A person who states their reasons 1000 times this month has doubled their odds of quitting. Why, because satan will give you 1100 reasons to go back this month. When we state the reasons 1000 times, wait, 1100 times, we can give him 1100 reasons he will not ruin everything for us the way he ruined everything for Adam and Eve.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

I am currently reading about 1 chapter in the New Testament and 4 chapters in the Old Testament daily. When I read the OT, about every other day the story is: Israel sinned again, and God allowed them to be enslaved by their enemies for 40 years, then freedom again. They sin again leading to 80 years of bondage. A bit of freedom, then, they sin again leading to 400 years of bondage.

It seems like sin always leads to bondage. In hind site, we say: They were not very smart, but... Do I do the exact same thing? Consider praying:

“Father, help me to replace thoughts of ______with Christian thoughts. Help me to stop submitting to this slavery.”

Galatians 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

I am free 3 years from my main addiction, now I am struggling with my secondary addiction. It is what I want to do. It brings me zero joy. It slows down my purpose. It keeps me in bondage. It is not what God wants me to do.

Second, consider reading the above verse as often as possible. That is how you plant “Truth” into yourself.

Third, when we read a bunch of Bible chapters daily, that is another way we plant truth into ourselves.

Fourth, sincere prayers about quitting is another way we plant truth into ourselves.

Fifth, finding a good church and going to church is another way we plant truth into ourselves.

Finally, the more truth you plant into yourselves, the more you will find freedom.