THE BEST SPIRITUAL WAY TO FIGHT TEMPTATION

[Gordon 7]

Pure thoughts are clean thoughts. Pure thinking involves thinking in a pure way about what we will read, watch, listen to, or think about. Consider praying David's prayer:

“Create in me a pure heart Oh God, and renew a right Spirit within me.”

Step one in thinking pure thoughts is to plan to think pure thoughts. Plan pure thoughts if you are out and about where temptation may pop up. Plan pure thoughts before you turn on the TV.

Second, pure thoughts are: What is God's will right now, not Wow, when we see an opportunity for risky things. Pure thoughts only happen when we avoid evil.

Finally, pure thoughts are writing prayers that say what Job said about keeping his eyes pure.

“Father, I will keep my eyes pure, I will keep my thoughts pure, help me to run from sin.”

Purity and positivity lead to a clean mind, and a clean mind keeps us free. Consider a focus on purity.

 

[Gordon 7]

Sometimes some churches act like the “Verses for quitting are too harsh, instead of just right.” God wrote these verses so that we can live right and have a great life. With every harsh verse consider saying:“ God is right. I need to change so that I can have a great life.”

Second, everybody at AA, or any other quitting group agrees: Life is better after we quit. So why do some go back? Because... It is what they “want” to do. They don't go back because it is better. Because it's not better, it's destruction, darkness, and depression. Consider praying: “Father, help me to go to war with what “I want.” What I want is bad. I give You permission to remind me 10 times per day that what I want is bad.

”Hebrews 10:36 ESV For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

Finally, consider memorizing this verse. #1 We increase endurance until we quit. #2 We do God's will. #3 We receive what is promised. To get the promise, do all of the steps. To find joy, do all of the steps. To be free from this habit, do all of the steps.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”

God puts problems into our lives. He does so to wake us up. To get us to do more things His way. To get us to do His will. When problems hit, our choice is to go back to _______, with its massive destruction, or, to realize that God wants us more in prayer, more in line with the Bible, and more of doing His will.

Second, consider forming the habit of finding prayers that will combat your problems and temptations. When we do that, we are running the race that He has set before us.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

I passed by a female wearing a bikini today. I did turn away. Until we do start turning away we can rarely rationalize why we should. Our flesh insists that we look. God insists that we turn away. The decision is 100% either short-term pleasure with destruction added, or the beginning of joy and purpose. The decision is saying, “God is right, it will be way better for me to look away.” The decision is saying, “I will quit doing what leads to emptiness and trouble, I will do things God's way. In the long term I think it will turn out great for me just like it did for Joseph who became second in command in the most powerful country in the world.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

1 Humble ourselves​

2 Pray​

3 Turn from sin​

4 See your land healed and start to see the blessing.​

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. I say it often, but, I don't say it enough... It is hard to quit a habit if you are “dead.” We all know Biblical David really screwed up. But, then he fully repented, and he fully started doing “everything” that God wanted him “To do.” David's rating for works and purpose was again, a 95-100. Top of the mark. When David was young he prayed about purpose (Works God wanted him to do) constantly. It is a safe assumption that he resumed that habit after he repented from his great sin. Then he went out and did what God wanted him to do.

Second, I think David's life was filled with pleasure when he was busy doing what God wanted him “To do. His works gave him greater pleasure than what his flesh would have given him if he did what his flesh wanted him to do.

Third, if we choose sinful pleasure so that we can have more pleasure while forgetting works... We have made a huge mistake. #1 We will have “less” pleasure than we would have had if we had done those works (Or prayed urgently to find our purpose). #2 Sinful pleasure “always” has added destruction.

Fourth, today my plan was to live for today my way. I was going to choose my way instead of joy. Most people would not have said my way for today was a sinful choice, but it certainly was not the way God would have chosen for me. Instead, God gave me a second chance to choose joy. I did take that chance. Today my life has joy. Today my purpose is bringing me joy. Today I think that the Light is fully on in life. Today, consider memorizing the above verse. It is a good one for quitting.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

My daughter is a volleyball coach. She told me that she has a 6 foot freshman who could be great if...She went on to say, “This girl struggles to even hit the ball over the net from 3 feet away.” She asked my advise. I told her:

Have her stand 2 feet from the wall and hit 100 balls per day, trying to make it all the way to the wall.

Some reading this are struggling with habits. They are willing to try anything, but, nothing is easy. Well, do something just like this volleyball player is doing. Find a tip that you can do, and do it over and over again. If your life is completely messed up, ignore the last 50 tips I recommended, and succeed at doing 1 thing over and over again. I remember when I was a complete mess. I told God, “I am going to praise You constantly today. I am sorry that I am a complete mess, but, I am going to praise You constantly today. I did praise Him constantly that day, and by night I was back to my habit. But, the next day, I knew a little more about quitting. The next week I knew even more. The next month, even more. At some point, I was doing several things per day that are vital for quitting. Now I was close, I could see that progress might be being made.

Second, maybe you have worked on new habits but you still have not quit. In this case, determine to improve 1% per day. This reasonable goal in no way stops you from quitting for good right now. But, this goal shows you... You can't learn 50 new habits this week. But, you can work daily on one habit and make improvements.

Third, remind yourself of why you are quitting often. Why do you have this goal? For example: I want to free myself from some secondary habits so that I can help more people. But the truth is, the Bible says I will start to increase in joy if I live that way. Yes, I want to help other people, but, if I want to fight off these very ingrained habits, I need to state a motivation that is alive for me. If I start to fight off these other habits, I will start to have even more joy.

To review: Find a tip that you can do, and do it over and over again.

#2 Determine to improve 1% per day.

#3 Say often why you are quitting. Everyone can do at least one of these things.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

Focus on Jesus

Try to spend time with other believers who are excited about Jesus. Watch them. Do they have more joy because of their focus? More purpose?

Second, think often, how does Jesus want me to think? What does Jesus want me to do? How does Jesus want me to change?

Third, Got Questions noted: “See the world for what it is: a sin-filled place of desperate need. The darker the world is to us, the more clearly the light of Christ will stand out. It’s not hard to focus on a light in a darkened room. “ We . . . have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts”

Fourth, focus on the Bible

If you want rapid change, study and pray over Bible verses that tell you how to change.

Next, just like we take notes from key articles to constantly review them, take notes from key Bible chapters that you are reading.

James 5:The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

Why go to war with sin... So, your prayers will be powerful.

In Micah 6:8 the Bible says to focus on justice, kindness, and humility. How will you remind yourselves to focus on this verse?

Finally, consider praying:“Father, help me to run from sinful pleasures. Teach me how to make You my pleasure.” A new focus will give you a new life.

 

[Gordon 7]

Romans 8:26 ESV Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

Consider praying: “Father, show me how to pray.”

James 5:16 ESV Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Matthew 6:7 ESV “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.”

I would rather have you pray, “Father, help me to turn from wrong thoughts” seven times per day with complete sincerity, and a full desire to change, than to pray it 27 times without thought, assuming that the number of prayers helps.

Colossians 4:2 ESV Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”

I don't give thanks enough. I need to.

Jeremiah 33:3 ESV Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

When we pray “The prayers He wants us to pray,” God does want to communicate with us.

John 15:7 ESV If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

I need to abide in Him more. I need His Words abiding in me more. Then I can start to get the promises from this verse.

Romans 12:12 ESV Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

Consider saying often: “I will increase in hope. I need to be more constant in prayer.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV Pray without ceasing.”

I need to up the standards on this one.

Second, here is an example of good repetition. I pray, “Father help me to turn from lust” dozens of times while I watch TV. Risky scenes have made me fall 50,000 times in the past.

Third, if I pray constantly, “Father, help me to run from sin (With full sincerity), it would be hard to pray that one too often.

Fourth, God listens to our hearts, more than our mouths. If you worry that you can't pray fancy heartfelt prayers simply pray:

“Father, help me.” He wants to help you.

Matthew 26:41 ESV Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Consider memorizing this great verse.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

With lust, something partially dies, or starts to die, the more it is done. Many agree that bad things happen because of sin, but most agree that lust kills love, joy, peace, and purpose to a greater or lesser degree. Consider printing this out and ranking from 1 to 10 (With 10 being best), your level in each category.

Peace ___

Love ___

Filled-with-the-spirit ___

Hope ___

Do you feel filled with Light? ___

Blessing ___

Strength ___

Joy ___

Purpose ___


To quit, prioritize what you want to do. Think 100 times per day what you want in each category. We don't lose weight by saying “I'm gonna eat less.” A better plan is, “I want my waist to be __, this is my goal, what I am going to do. Why will I eat less? Because, this is what I want my waist to be.

Second, if you think more about how you will increase in each (Or some) of these categories, you will think less about ____.

Third, what if during intense temptation a person first reads 3 of the verses for quitting (Based on my 21-day program), and then whips out a printout of this sheet and studies it... Thinking about ways to increase in many of these categories.

Fourth, this sheet will remind you “Why” you are low in some/many of these categories. You will stay low as long as you pick short-term, sinful pleasure over God's ways.

Fifth, today I read, “Sin is stupid.” Consider memorizing this fact: “Lustis causing all of the things on the above list to partially die or begin to die.”

Sixth, someday in heaven, someone may come up to me and show me their sheet. On it they wrote, peace, a 1 rating, ruined by lust. Love, a 2 rating, weakened by lust. Blessing, a 1 rating, ruined by lust. Joy, a 1 rating, ruined by lust.

Then they show me a new printout of what happened after they studied these categories for one month. Peace, a 5 rating, love, a 6 rating, blessing, a 7 rating, joy, an 8 rating.

Today, set your goals for each category. Consider reading your sheet and thinking about these goals often. When you don't ruin these things with lust... They grow stronger and stronger, and then life gets better and better.



This is part 2 of this article

When we are mired in a habit we say, “I have no idea how to quit this.” But what if we took the above 9 categories and gave each one a rating before we would decide to follow some selfish road, or, sinful road?

With the vanities that I want to chase, my rating in almost all of these categories is lower.

Instead, what if I spend time with God finding out what He wants me to do? What if I spend time in key verses that are about how I want/need to change?

Second, we need increased motivation in order to do the many things we need to change in order to quit for good.

I want more peace, I want/need way more love, I need to be more filled-with-the-spirit, I want less darkness and more light in my life, I want more blessings, I want/need more strength, I want more joy.

Third, now I am ready to go to war with ______. I am ready to look up a couple of key articles that contain things I need to work on. I am getting motivated to dig into key verses that will help me raise my rating in many of these categories.

Fourth, now I am beginning to understand why God insists that I live life in a very certain way. Because my life will be better if I do things His way.

 

[Gordon 7]

It is vital that we repent first... Then start the alternate activity. An example is an 18 year old man who is sitting around, looking at his phone. His current “feed” is feeding him pictures of all kinds of borderline stuff. So he throws down his phone and starts his alternate activity. This leads to a number of problems:

#1 His phone will spit out the same thing tomorrow.

#2 The darkness that he allowed to linger in his mind will hurt, or even ruin the alternative activity.

#3 The Holy Spirit is the “Holy” Spirit. He won't help you if you leave garbage in your phone, on your computer, or in your TV feed.

#4 The alternate activity will be way less fun. Satan will make sure of that.

#5 It's never just one more peek. Satan knows that. One more peek gives him rights.

#6 What rights you ask? I don't know... But you “will” find out. It usually includes harassment and destruction.

Finally, repent fully of your lusts and thoughts.

Second, repent by committing to “Cleaning up your feed.” Consider praying:

“Father, I will delete everything tempting that I can. I will commit to not clicking on anything that sends my feed in the wrong direction.”

When we start an alternate activity with darkness still in us, it is a mild positive. When we start an alternative activity after we fully repent... It becomes an activity that we will do in the Light and presence of the Lord. Then it has a great chance of being a great activity.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

I place an object at the bottom of my bed as a reminder to do something I want to do.

Second, consider putting sticky notes, or notes using tape on the device that causes you the most temptation. Use codes if needed: Pure eyes = PE, Turn from lust = TFL, run from sin = RFS.

Third, place a note in the place where you want the new behavior. Example: You want to have the new habit of Bible reading at 6;30 AM, or at 7:30 PM (Your first activity after work). Place your note where you will see it, place it by the activity you most do at that time, ie TV, computer, or any activity you do most at that time.

Fourth, make it a habit to quote scripture or pray key prayers while brushing your teeth. Use a note for a while.

Fifth, open a Google doc, or a Word file with the 3 habits you want to acquire listed on them and keep them in the corner of your computer or device at all times.

Sixth, put a picture of the activity you want to learn on your phone/computer/device as the welcome screen.

James 4:7 ESV Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Consider praying:

“Father, help me to submit to You.”

“Father, show me how to resist the devil.”

Finally, use as many practical things as you can to change. Then, use as many spiritual things as you can to change. Be obsessed with change. That is the key to changing.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

I believe it is a fact that bad habits lead directly to negative emotions. Sinful repetitive habits always lead to things like anxiety, anger, fear, frustration, and a list of 20 other bad emotions, and the final result becomes darkness and depression. My proof is what the Bible says our emotions are supposed to be like:

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. “

Take a couple of these fruits that you are weak in. For example, I am today picking peace. The stupid things I want to strain after keep me from peace. They also keep me from joy. They also keep me from self-control.

Yesterday I wrote about reminders to prompt new habits. I just put a physical reminder to prompt me to think and focus on peace. I did that because without reminders I will just live life as before, with the same results as before.

A massive key to quitting is to develop the habit of “Thinking constantly about what you want.” Everyone who always reads my articles knows that I insist on joy in my life. I make decisions about many things based on trying to have Biblical joy. I have quit my main habit since I discovered that my main habit was killing my joy. Shockingly to me, now I am starting to have joy. However, now I have other things that I am working on that are hurting my joy, my self-control, and my peace. Consider writing your own prayer:

“Father, help me to increase the war against ________, and fill me with your peace” (Replace the word peace with the fruit you want to increase in).

Consider praying your prayer a lot. Become obsessed with increasing in your fruit of choice. Currently, we sometimes think wrong. Thinking obsessively about increasing in the fruits of the Spirit is thinking “Right. Thinking right gives us less time to think about _______.

What are your goals concerning thinking right?

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

I know someone who allowed sin to linger in their life. When it lingers it often gets worse. In this case, the poor guy is now up on most serious charges.

The wages of sin are emptiness, confusion, slavery, and destruction of emotions. The definition of death means separation. The more I sin, the more I feel separated from God. The more I sin, the farther I am from joy. The more I sin, the more messed up my life is.

2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.”

If we are entangled again the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. Double ouch.

Today, consider spending a large amount of time praying about the consequences of lingering sin. Pray about what partially dies for you, what begins to die, what emptiness feels like, and whether you lose control of some of your emotions, lose some of your light, and lose some of your joy.

1 John 3:6 ESV No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.”

Consider memorizing this verse. None of us understands the seriousness of sin. Verses like this one help us to understand it better. Verses like this one inspire us to learn habits we need to learn to quit.

Finally, spend time on the quitting articles that are key for you. That is the first step in stopping sin from lingering in your life.

 

[Gordon 7]

I watched a You Tube where a guy was describing to an actor about to play a heroin addict, what it is like to be on heroin. He told him: Drink a bunch of whisky and get into a hot tub, and that will be the tip of the surface of what it is like to be on heroin. My immediate reply to hearing that was a loud NO. This person is exaggerating the pleasure of that addiction. But how can I prove that fact. How can I prove to you that you are exaggerating the pleasure of your habit. Let's look in on a heroin addict 12 minutes after he shoots up:

I say: "How is your high?"

"It's okay, not is good as I was hoping for."

"What were you hoping for?"

"4 years ago I was at this big party, fun people, and loud music. I ran into this dude who gave me some really great stuff. We used, then we ran around having the greatest time. I met this chick, yeah, it was great"

"How did today compare to that day?

I mean, today is pretty good, just... was hoping for something special, you know.

"Has your habit caused destruction in your life?"

"Yeah, lots of destruction."

"It's my opinion that one day like today (going back to the habit) can cause between 7-21 days of destruction. Sometimes a lot more, sometimes a little less. My question is... Was today worth that much destruction?"

"Wow man, never thought of it that way. It does not seem to be worth it."

"Every person with a habit remembers that one great day with their habit. Or, they are looking for that one great day, event, pleasure, or thrill. Instead:

God wants us to live a life of joy. He wants us to read the Bible every day so that we know how to live. The minimum standard is 1 chapter of the New Testament every day. I read, or listen to 1 chapter of the New Testament and 4 chapters of the Old Testament daily. That is not a perfect mix but I am making up for ignoring the OT for a long time. Many "Through the Bible in 1 year programs have a better mix."

Today I am recommending a "New Thinking" notebook. Every time you read about a new way to think in the Bible, write it down. Every time you read a quitting article about a new way to think, write it down.

Consider praying this prayer often:

"Father, help me to not exaggerate thoughts of my wrongful pleasure. Forgive me. Please remind me to say often that "Your ways are best."

Second, determine to make it a habit to think of the destruction "every" time you think about the wrongful activity." Consider praying one thousand times:

"Father, show me the destruction of my wrongful thoughts and habits "Every time that I think about them."

Finally, the formula for the pleasure of your habit is:

Short-term pleasure minus the destruction.

For those bad at math... Yes, it is for sure a negative number.

I feel strongly that some day in heaven someone will come up to me and say: "You said to pray that prayer 1000 times. I prayed it 10,000 times. After about 9,900 times I finally started to get it. I quit.

Praying that prayer with every thought about your habit will cause great things to happen.

 

[Gordon 7]

Jesus is the Light of this world. When the sun comes up, we can see physical things. When we spend time with Jesus we can see truth. When we spend time in His Word, we can see truth. Light always allows life to be better. When we spend enough time with Jesus, His Light allows us to see the destruction of sin.

Gotquestions.org noted: “Physical light is necessary for physical life. The earth would certainly change very rapidly if there were no longer any sunlight. A forest full of trees with very thick canopies of foliage high above has very little plant life on the ground except for moss or lichen, which needs little sunlight. Plants will never move away from the light—they are said to be positively phototropic, drawn to the light. In the same way, spiritual light is necessary for spiritual life, and this can be a good test of our standing in Christ. The believer will always tend toward spiritual things; he will always tend toward fellowship, prayer, the Word of God, and so on. The unbeliever always does the opposite (John 1:5; 3:19–20) because light exposes his evil, and he hates the light. Indeed, no man can come into the true spiritual light of Jesus Christ, unless he is enabled (John 6:37).”

Second, the Bible says “We are the light of the world.” I need to spend more time thinking/praying about how to be the light of the world instead of thinking about _______. In addition to our main habits, we need to spend more time thinking/praying about how to be the light of the world instead of thinking about _______(fill in a 2nd and a 3rd wrong thing that you think about too much).

Third, I need to go to war with sin and do what God wants me to do (doing His will). I need to remind myself often: I am doing this so that Jesus Light can shine through me. Doing this is the great pleasure, and joy. All of these other things that I chase are at best the vanities that Soloman wrote about in Ecclesiastes.

In conclusion, I need to:

#1 Go to war with sin.

#2 Strive to do God's will.

#3 Remind myself often: I am doing this so that Jesus Light can shine through me.

The brighter Jesus' light shines, the dumber sin habits look. Consider praying often:

“Father, help me to fight against my selfish desires, and help me to be Your Light.”

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

Consider working often to have control over your phone and devices. Sin is like an old horror movie. Some small vapor comes out of something and it gets bigger, and bigger, and more powerful as every moment goes by. Next thing you know it is killing everyone. That is exactly what the Bible says about sin. It leads to death. What does “death” mean in regards to our phones/TV's, and devices?” Wrong looking leads to wrong thoughts which warps and starts to kill our ability to love. #1 To love God. #2 To love others. We must kill our love for sin, or sin will kill our love, and kill our love for God.

Second, bad thoughts kill our peace. When I was trapped in sin I hated going to bed. In bed, I fully remembered what a mess I had made of my life. In bed, I realized that I had put up a wall a mile high between me and God. In bed, I was frustrated and unhappy with my life... I knew I was going done a dark, bad path.

Third, bad actions kill our gentleness. I just thought, “I am a tough guy.” I was harsh, forceful, and uncaring. In the midst of bad habits, I did not care about anyone or anything. God wants pretty much the opposite of that.

Fourth, wrong looking and thoughts stop goodness. How is it that such a low percentage of churchgoers try to find their purpose so that they will help others? Because they are staring at satan's temptations on their phones constantly. That action stops goodness, and promotes bad habits. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to turn instantly from lust.”

“Father, help me to turn instantly from thoughts of _____.”

I have declared World War III on thoughts of ______(Place your main habit in the blank).

When a bad thought/image hits I might say:

1 “No, then I say, Praise the Lord.”​

2 “Father, help me to turn from ___.” I often pray this in advance if I am watching TV.​

3 Should I be doing this activity, should I be doing a healthier activity?​

4 This will lead to destruction. It is time to run from it.​

Fifth, bad thoughts/looking, kills our ability to have temperance. Every time you do one of the above 4 things when a wrong image or thought hits, you build temperance. Every time you sit and stare at the image, or sit and think about the bad thought, temperance weakens.

Sixth, sin leads to sin. Fight all sin and declare WW III on your main habit.

Finally, consider putting a list of what sin kills, into your phone. Then look at that list every time you look at the wrong thing, or think about the wrong thing.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

Quitting probably takes longer than you think. Forming new habits probably takes longer than you think. It takes 66 days on average to form a new habit. Some people are so obsessed with quitting and with new habits, so they think about forming new habits “All the time.” That leads to more rapid success. Others who are completely determined to quit still struggle after 126 days. Let's look at 3 people who are trying to quit. To start, they are each using 3 techniques. #1 Daily Bible reading. #2 Learning the habit of turning from lust. #3 Learning new activities to replace the high-risk activities that caused them to fall so easily.

Mike

Mike has signed up for a “Through the Bible in a year app. To inspire himself to do it every day he has memorized the verse: “Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I should not sin against thee.”Mike has printed out the “Turn from lust articles.” He spends 5-15 minutes per day studying them, and he puts them on his lap when he watches TV, or is in any tempting situation at home. He says 5 times per day: “I will work on this habit every day. I will form this habit even if it takes “All year.” Mike has a list of 7 activities that he will go to instead of doing high-risk activities that he used to do. He says 3 times per day: I will do my best to enjoy this new activity, but it is not for fun. I am doing this activity so that I will quit. I will praise the Lord while doing these new activities. I commit to doing things God's way.

Lisa

Lisa has decided to read a chapter in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament daily. She has a time and a place where she will read. Lisa has memorized 3 prayers from the Turn-from-lust articles. She has set an alarm on her phone for every 30 minutes. With each alarm, she prays one of the prayers. Lisa has a list of 5 activities to do to replace high-risk activities. She has them listed in her phone so that she can access them immediately.

Ralph

Ralph is totally determined to quit. He says Turn-from-lust prayer constantly all day long. But he loses a lot of momentum when he slips up the next day. Next Ralph tries reading a chapter of the New Testament the next day. But, he is a bit discouraged when temptation overwhelms him again. Finally, Ralph tries sports as activities to replace high-risk activities. But it is the same old story.

What I failed to mention earlier is...Mike, and Lisa also fell after one day. They are both completely addicted, and they have multiple other problems in life. But both of them went back to their new habits after falling. Mike says: I am going to do these new habits all year. I don't care if it kills me.

Lisa says: I am going to plan even more, and set even more alarms in my phone. I will keep trying no matter what. Finally, both Mike and Lisa are doing some smart things. I like their odds. Ralph is bouncing from one miracle quitting technique to another. He is very confused and frustrated because nothing he tries ever seems to help.

6 months later Mike is 62 days clean and Lisa is 19 days clean. Even more importantly, both are starting to understand that God's ways are best. They are more motivated than ever to do things His way. They have finally established some new habits, and the new habits are starting to help.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

When we are considering a sin filled entertainment choice we forget... We are choosing to look at a sinful scene and rejecting God.

1 John 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.”

Based on these passages, we must work daily, and hourly on the habit of turning from lust. Based on these passages we need to spend more time in prayer to allow the Holy Spirit to fill us more so that we can fight sin. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to turn from lust and fill me with your love.

Second, the bigger sin is:

James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

Many reading this are too caught up in habits to do a lot of good. In that case, set a time and place to pray about doing good, finding your purpose, and doing God's will.

Third, it is hard to do good when sin, darkness, and maybe even depression rule you. That is why the Bible constantly talks about fighting sin.

Fourth, it takes time to overcome habits and sin. God wants to see us planning and trying. For hardheaded people like me, God just chips away at my wrong (When I allow Him to).

Fifth, miracles do happen. I rarely talk about them because they usually happen long after we have established new habits. But they do happen if you keep trying.

Sixth, one of the most important miracles is realizing... Light and joy are slowly starting to enter our lives again. At some point, we want to keep seeing that increasing. At that point, we are close to being done for good.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

I wrote an article called The Killer that I have linked at the end. This is a follow-up to that article.

The Killer article is not perfect. I should have had the “Don” being a lover of dogs with 1000 dogs. Then had him proclaim: “If you kill my dogs and keep killing my dogs you will be ______. Then I should have had Jerry kill a few of his dogs, then ignore the continued warning to not kill his dogs. Then the reckoning.

Second, the point is to increase our fear of the Lord. The Bible encourages us to fear the Lord 134 times. This week consider praying 134 times:

“Father, my goal is to please You because you are the Judge.” The end of this prayer is from Moodymedia.org: “Help me to fear sin, not just because of its consequences, but also because it grieves Your heart. I pray that I might “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling” as the Bible says to do.

”Proverbs 1:7 ESV The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Job 28:28 ESV And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’

”Matthew 10:28 ESV And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Proverbs 14:27 ESV The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.

The fear of the Lord leads us to turn away from the snares of death. If you want to avoid the snares of death... Pray about fearing the Lord. If you want your existence to be a fountain of life. Study verses about fearing the Lord (Verses fear of the Lord).

When Biblical David feared the Lord he had a glorious life. A life like a grand overflowing fountain. When he sinned, not so much.

What will you do to increase your fear of the Lord?

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

The Joy Habit

I attended Pilgrim camp as a kid. Their motto was Holiness unto the Lord. Some would say, what a pushy, strict motto. But none of the kids minded. We were treated with love, and it was obvious that their beliefs were the real thing. They were living with joy and purpose, and they were teaching us how to live with joy and purpose.

The problem in life is, when we forget about holiness, we lose faith in believing that God's ways lead to happiness.

The problem with quitting is people want to quit drinking but still do porn, or quit porn and still drink in excess. Holiness is no part of that quitting program. People want to quit ______, but still do _______(Put in the sin you don't want to quit).

Pilgrim camp's motto was Holiness unto the Lord. The leaders lived great lives. They constantly exhibited the fruits of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, temperance. They taught people to seek the Lord to study scripture and to pray to be filled-with-the-spirit.

Some read my articles and do the practical tips and reject the Spiritual tips. That system will work as long as you can resist your temptations without having a lot of joy in your life.

God's #1 reason for writing the Bible might not be so we can be good (But it is high up on the list). His #1 reason might be that we can study it so that we can be shining Lights, allowing Him to shine through us.

Trust me, there are already millions of joyless Christians saying how great their religion is. Quitting without holiness will allow you to join their group. But there are also a lot of Christians quitting habits and embracing holiness. These Christians are joining a group of Christians who are headed for purpose, freedom, and joy.

Hebrews 1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

The Joy Habit

#1 Consider saying 5 times daily: I will live in a way that increases my joy.

#2 Consider saying 5 times daily: Holiness starts to lead to joy.

#3 Working toward holiness makes quitting easier.

#4 Always have 1 or 2 quitting habits as goals. Working on them steers you toward holiness, and fighting lawlessness increases gladness.