THE BEST SPIRITUAL WAY TO FIGHT TEMPTATION

[Gordon 7]

My Miracle

A couple of days ago I was tempted to watch a high-risk movie. I had seen it years ago and enjoyed it. I chose not to go to war with this thought. Instead, I thought: “I think I can handle this.” Now it is a couple of days later, I did turn from sinful scenes in the movie, but life has been blah ever since, and my joy has disappeared. Why has my joy disappeared?

1 God was probably unhappy with my choice.​

2 God certainly did not watch it with me.​

3 If God did not watch it with me, then the Light that I had got turned off.​

4 The old saying, “Garbage in garbage out” is very true.​

Second, watching what our flesh wants, and thinking the way our flesh wants, kills our joy at the least. At the most, it drags us right back to our habit.

Third, satan promotes the “This is what I want” thought pattern. Instead, fight back.

Fourth, wisdom asks, “What does God want?”

Fifth, quitting protocol says: If my eyes and thoughts are filled with garbage, my temptations will increase and increase.

Sixth, repent. Consider praying:

“Father, I am sorry for watching _____, or for thinking ______. Help me to remember to work on the habit of turning from wrong images and thoughts.

Seventh, God is my miracle. He has given me a chance at a great life. How often will I forget and look at other things, think about wrong things, and chase wrong things.

Eighth, consider starting a list of better things to watch, and better things to think about (I have old articles on this topic).

Finally, My goal is to say 500 times this week, “God is my miracle and my pleasure. My goal is to think right, keep my eyes pure, live right, and try to see if I can be more involved in the great life God has planned for me.

When Biblical David fiddled with sin... Disaster. When he lived right, God was his miracle. His joy, pleasure, and complete purpose.

This article was based in part on this great music video. Consider adding it to your playlist.

 

[Gordon 7]

Bad habits start to kill, partially kill, or do kill, our passion for Jesus Christ. David is our great example of this. He had a huge passion for God when he was young. He prayed constantly and meditated on the Word. Then he let sin creep in, causing his passion at one point to disappear, and major sin followed. Then he fully repented.

David had great success, and joy when he had a full passion for God.

GotQuestions.org noted: “The first love which characterized the Ephesians was the zeal and ardor with which they embraced their salvation as they realized they loved Christ because He first loved them (1 John 4:19) and that it was, in fact, His love for them that had made them “alive together with Christ.” So overwhelmed were they by the joy that came from understanding their former state—dead in trespasses and sins—and their new life in Christ, that they exhibited the fruit of that joy (Ephesians 2:1-5).

When David's pleasure and joy were from God, he lived one of the greatest lives ever. Consider praying:

“Father, show me how to make You my joy and pleasure.”

Consider writing your own prayer about this. Over the last two days I have constantly prayed:

“Father, You are my provider, You are my miracle, doing Your will is my pleasure, and You are my pleasure and joy.”

When we insist on having a great passion for God, bad habits disappear.

Second, passion leads to purpose. When David was in sync with God he fulfilled God's purposes. When he fulfilled God's plan for him, God's joy remained with him.

Consider praying:

“Father, take away this _____ habit, and help me to care about souls, and helping people.”

Fourth, the Bible says that David “Praised the Lord” seven times per day. Praising the Lord increases our joy and brings us closer to God. If habits are ensnaring you, or if depression is swallowing you, you might want to praise the Lord seven times seventy times per day.

Finally, is Christianity the greatest thing ever?

Yes!!!!!

Make it the greatest thing ever by going to war with habits and with sin, and by being passionate about God just like David was.

 

[Gordon 7]

My devotion for today was Revelation 3 where the Bible says “The lukewarm will be spit out of my mouth.” God wants us to be “Hot, or cold.” Sin keeps us cold or lukewarm at best. People want to hear about Christianity from a person who is excited about it, and who is filled with love. To change from being lukewarm to being excited about Christ:

#1 Pray. Prayer should be the highlight of our day. Keep trying until it becomes the best part of your day.

#2 If you don't know how to pray, just praise the Lord for 10 minutes, then pray the Lord's prayer.

#3 Practically search out ways to love others.

#4 Put key scripture in your phone “Blessed are those who meditate on His law day and night.”

#5 Fight anxiety, and replace it with praise.

#6 Believe that trials are training you to someday do something great for God.

#7 Make notes so that you can think about the new habit that you are working on that will help your fight your main habit.

#8 Be excited about working on your new habits. They (plus Jesus) will change your life.

#9 Pray about your new habits often. Pray about what you want to become. Consider praying:

“Father, teach me how to fight lukewarmness, show me how to be on fire.”

Fire = change. Change is step one toward success.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

How do we live in truth daily? #1 Read the Bible. But, also pray constantly about God's ways. God's commands are good. We usually believe that statement except when we are fighting one of the commands. Instead, take the command you are fighting and say,

#1 This command _________ (fill in the blank with the command you struggle with) is also good. My life will 100% be better when I learn to follow it.

#2 Say, God, you are my miracle, my provider, and my joy.

#3 Say, “God's ways are best and they start to lead me toward joy.”

What statements/prayers can you focus on that will lead you toward truth?

Second, put on Christian music. Sinful music can easily lead you away from truth. Christian music can often lead you toward truth.

Third, practice rapid repentance. I wish I was like Paul or Joseph from the Bible (Righteous people), but maybe their trick was rapid repentance. The habit of rapid repentance helps us understand why we should live life God's way. Until we practice rapid repentance, joy will be a mystery.

Fourth, when you have fully repented, ask the Holy Spirit to be your guide. He has a purpose for you.

Finally, we live in truth when we spend time with other believers. Other believers are usually strong in a different aspect of Christianity than we are. Learn how to love, be humble, have faith, or do good works by watching other believers. If they are a powerhouse, loving Christian, get to know them and find out why. Do they have more joy than you? Find out why. Biblical Paul was filled with joy. Why? Because he was way better at living in truth than I am.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

Adam and Eve's greatest pleasure was communication with God and spending time with God. They had many other great pleasures, but their greatest pleasure was God. Biblical David's greatest pleasure (When he was living right) was praying, studying the commandments, and spending time with God. The Bible implies that Biblical Paul may have had the most joy of any person. His greatest pleasure was...

When I am living right, my greatest pleasure is prayer, Bible, and spending time with God. The problem:

Satan slithered up to Eve and said: “My pleasure is better, your eyes will be opened, you will be powerful doing things my way.” Then disaster happened.

Second, I claim to be convinced that God's way is always better. Many of us say that. But, in addition to our main habit/habits we have a bunch of other things going on. I want financial success my way, I want TV, phone, computer pleasure my way, I want to eat, and drink what I want, I want to look at what I want to look at. I want to do what I feel like doing. Your list of what you want is certainly different than mine, but we are all the same. Our lists contain, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, a thousand times. Consider praying 1000 times:

“Father, You are my pleasure.”

Eve would have lived in the Garden of Eden until this day. Lived in paradise. Lived a perfectly joyful life with God... If, she had just insisted on making God her pleasure.

Third, I have an excuse. Adam and Eve messed it up for me. I was born in sin.

Fourth, what if I make it a habit to pray that prayer? What if I say... I am going to live God's way from now on. Consider praying:

“Father, doing Your will is my pleasure.”

Adam and Eve's pleasure was doing God's will. Then they listened to satan. Then disaster.

Fifth, if I don't pray prayers like these, satan will sneak right back in and convince me that my way (which is often his way) is best.

Sixth, several decades ago my dad convinced me to pray often:

“Father, help me to care about souls.”

I have prayed that prayer maybe 50,000 times. Doing that was the smartest thing I ever did (After accepting Christ). That prayer helped me change from a selfish person into a person who tries to help others. Additionally, that change started me on a path toward great joy.

Seventh, now my goal is to make God my pleasure. He is, but I need constant reminders because I have created this crazy world where other things are my pleasures.

Eighth, making God our pleasure does not diminish clean pleasures. Clean pleasures are always better with God.

Finally, consider setting your goal of how you will remind yourself to make God your pleasure. For me, my pleasure always goes way up when I do that.

 

[Gordon 7]

I am having a bad week financially. In the past, that would be a perfect excuse to slip into bad behavior. But today I am working on habits that are changing my mind despite the fact that my physical situation is staying the same. #1 I am going to war with sin.

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

Today I wrote out 6 new verses for one of my secondary habits that I am currently working on. From now on: Every day that I read those verses, I will be resisting the devil. At some point our resistance is enough, then the devil flees from us.

#2 I am forming new habits. I have prayers that I am making into habits. Prayers like:

“Father, You are my provider.”

“Father, You are my pleasure.”

Second, people think Biblical Paul just automatically was ready to praise the Lord and sing when he was in prison. Wrong! He developed those habits while he was free. While free, the joy of the Lord came upon him. When he was imprisoned, he had the option to mope or to stay in the joy of the Lord. He chose to stay in joy.Third, the Bible talks about the glory of God. The more Paul invested in the fruits of the Spirit, the more the glory of God decended upon him.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

I am sure Paul studied and prayed over the fruits of the Spirit 10 times as much as I have. Maybe 50 times as much. Today, consider writing out the fruits of the Spirit, and praying over each one for one minute.

How much time will satan spend tempting a person who is extremly busy working on forming new habits? Satan is an efficiency expert. He tempts people who are fiddling with sin, who are bored, and who have no goals the most.

#1 He spends minimal time tempting people who are obsessed with forming great habits. #2 He hates listening to people praise the Lord. He won't stick around long if you do that. #3 He hates listening to people pray over the fruits of the Spirit. He knows that the fruits of the Spirit will give you greater power to go to war with your habit and with sin.

What great habits will you focus on?

For the full article click

 

[Gordon 7]

The Bible says: "Be ye filled with the Holy Spirit."

Today, I will review the last 4 keys for being filled-with-the-spirit based on some of my old articles.

#1 To be filled with the Spirit I pray by asking the Holy Spirit to fill me with His power. To fill me with His fire. The next direction we can choose is to pray the prayer of Jabez.

“Father expand my borders and bless me indeed.”

We pray this prayer because we need to more fully understand: God wants to fill us for His reasons, not ours. We need the Holy Spirit if we are going to expand our borders. God is filling us for a very specific reason. And the challenge is that often we think that our lives will be worse, with less pleasure and less joy if we do exactly what God wants us to do.

Wrong!!!

Doing exactly what God wants is the key to purpose and joy.

#2 Great Christians memorize this verse:

“Thy will be done.”

Then they spend time in prayer to be empowered to do “His will.” Often we need to pray and ask Jesus to increase our will to surrender and give up control. To ask Jesus to empty us of anything that’s preventing the Holy Spirit from being in control. Ask Him to increase our faith in His promise to give us the Holy Spirit. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to fight against sin, and fill me with your Spirit.”

#3 Consider praying:“Father, help me to remember that lust leads to death.”

This prayer is based on James 1:14-15. Something always is dying or dies when we give in to lust.

Some people want to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that they are empowered with the gifts of the Spirit. But if that is your method, that is a long cut. Instead, use a short-cut. Focus on the two commands that Jesus said are most important. To love the Lord your God with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. This consistent focus leads us to activities that produce joy. Helping Others. We pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that the Holy Spirit can empower us to help others.

Take time every day in prayer to allow the Holy Spirit to fill you. Second, let the Spirit know that you are available to do something today, or to say something today if He will help you do it. Remember... God knows your strengths and your weaknesses. If He is going to have a tiny brained person like me talk to someone about Christ, He is going to do a lot of leading. More likely, all the talking. My only jobs are going to war with sin, spending time in prayer, and being available.

Fourth, people who insist on being filled with the Spirit quit 10 times as often as others. Why? #1 because the Holy Spirit helps us to be in God's will. #2 Because now they have something great “to do.” #3 Because now the Holy Spirit is becoming a constant help in the war against sin. #4 Because now they again experience their “First love,” and start to increase in joy. And it is great.

Finally, if you are a rebel like I was a few years ago, being filled is a long process. But... everyone can do some of these steps and get more filled-with-the-spirit. Today, set your goals for what steps you are willing to do. It will help.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

Judgement day is a foundation of Christianity. Despite its massive importance, I rarely write about it. Why is it so important?

#1 What I do today will be reviewed on that day.

#2 How I help others will be reviewed on that day.

#3 Mathew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

My thoughts become my words. Ouch. Today I need to work on changing my thoughts and my words.

#4 2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

Everyone would obey God's commands more if they thought about judgement day often. Consider praying:

“Father, remind me often about judgement day. That thought inspires me greatly to turn from thoughts of _______.”

Second, today I was praying about how I can inspire myself to get away from my foolish, waste of time activities? Solution: Memorize this verse. My waste of time activities bring zero joy. When I do good, my joy begins to overflow.

Third, when we give in to sinful pleasure, will we be reminded of that one day in the future? The Bible says: Proverbs 9:10

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Fourth, I don't pray about doing God's will often enough. God's will is taken from right out of the Lord's prayer - “Thy will be done.” Consider praying:

“Father, help me to pray “Thy will be done” five times per day. I want to do Your will."

Finally, one of the biggest reasons we have bad habits is because we don't know what “To do.” Today we have two verses (underlined) for you to consider memorizing. These verses are hammers that will begin to pound out your habit. Write them down, print them out, put them in your phone. Now we have something to do and new things to think about.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

Life is always a struggle. First, we struggle with God. He says no to certain things, do we say yes to them? Does God have the wisdom to know what is best for us? If I say God is right about everything, in every column, is that too often? No! Why? Because, my habits and plans are deeply rooted. Consider praying:

“Father, you are right about everything, today I will change some of my plans, and start doing things Your way.” I am praying often:

“Lord, You are my pleasure.”

My pleasures get me into trouble, don't satisfy, and they cause me frustration. But, I am so convinced that my pleasures are the answer.

Second, the minute we think that our pleasures are great, satan has permission to lead us on a wild ride. Instead:

The person who quits porn turns instantly when a risky scene comes on. The drinker/drug user who quits will aggressively say “No” if anyone brings up the party. All people who quit for a period of time can explain the destruction that their habit causes for five minutes straight. What do all of these quitters have in common? They aggressively slammed the door when temptation arose.

Third, satan needs permission to harass you. He gets permission when you consider your options and think about the short-term pleasure you could get. When you slam the door shut instantly, and start to Praise the Lord, satan will do a burnout in his car trying to get away from you as fast as he can.

Fourth, our flesh does want that habit, but temptations are only about 10% as bad if you keep slamming the door on temptation. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to slam the door on temptation instantly.”

With the habit of slamming the door on temptation instantly, it becomes a fair fight. You can win a fair fight.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

What is your #1 reason for quitting? Here is a fact. Person A who wants to quit at an 85% level will quit faster than person (B) who is “Demanded by a court” to quit, if person A figures out how to remind themselves “Why” they want to quit enough times every day. The fact that B needs to quit way more does not matter. Why? It's simple math: Person A thought about their #1 reason to quit 75 times. They fought temptation 85 times. Person |B thought about temptation 85 times. They only remembered 3 times to think about why they should quit.

Over time we begin to be what we think about more.

Second, quitting is work. Sometimes it is fun to go to quitting sites and quitting groups, at other times, not so much. The person who sits down for 5 minutes and says 5 times why they are quitting, then thinks about “why” for 5 minutes is now getting ready to put in the work. They have a goal, they have something they want to accomplish.

Third, if you figure out how to remind yourself why, 100 times daily, you will learn a lot about yourself. If you have a severe habit after saying why 38 times, you will say something like:

#1 I don't care.

#2 Life is too hard.

#3 It is just not worth it.

#4 My life sucks and I will do what I want.

Fill in the blank ______ with your favorite excuse.

Fourth, if you do this exercise every day this week you will realize... The opposite of your excuse is the “Truth.”

Every person with every habit can learn from what everybody at AA says. They say: “Life is way better after we quit.” That is truth.

 

[Gordon 7]

1% of people reading this article will attack quitting with 100% force. What is happening with the 99%?

#1 Confusion. God told Eve: Don't eat the apple. Satan told Eve how great the apple was, how great life would be, how she would be empowered. She was confused.

What really happened in the Garden? God said no, then Eve made her decision after satan tempted her. Then, disaster.

My fav quitting habits story is Joseph. God said no. Satan presented a beautiful woman who tempted him, but Joseph last listened to what God said, and he ran from temptation. In fact, Joseph listened to God first, in the middle, and last. He listened to what God said about his potential sin because he studied, and knew what God said about it. Then, he became the 2nd most powerful man in the world.

#2 Rebellion. I have quit my main habit with these methods, but now I am attacking a secondary issue. I still have some love for this issue. But, God says no, and I believe God, but... I also believe that my joy would be greater if I continue to chase this thing the way I always have.

Of course, my chasing has never brought joy in the past. Sometimes some excitement, thrills, short-term pleasure, but never joy. So, instead of pounding this issue out with verses about it, I am praying about it. Should I be praying about it? Of course. But... In addition to praying about it, I could also pound it out with scripture.

Finally, it is a fact that I can increase my joy if I pound it out with scripture. It is a fact that I can have an even better life if I do even more things God's way.

Okay, writing this down has made me a lot less confused, now I just have to work on my rebellion part of the equation.

 

[Gordon 7]

Satan tempted Jesus, and Jesus said: “Get behind me satan.” While we don't quite have the power of Jesus, if we have repented fully of our sins, we have the full power to fight with satan.​

First, repent. Second, tell satan in Jesus name to get behind you. Third, commit to a long-term war with sin. This commitment will increase your power to fight temptation. Fourth, committed Christians have great power when they pray the blood of Jesus over their fight. The power of Jesus blood gives us victory over darkness.

1 Peter 5:8 -9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Everyone can resist. If while under severe temptation you read these verses over and over again, power will start to fill you. Read them while watching (clean) TV. Put them in your phone. Access His power.

How do we submit to God? Consider praying:

“Father, Your ways are right and great. Help me to fight until I change.”

With every temptation Jesus said to satan, “It is written.” What if with every temptation you find 2 verses about your habit and you repeat them 5 times per hour, or more. Then, the next day find two new ones and repeat, repeat, repeat. What if you find two new verses each day for 30 days, and repeat them with “Every” temptation. With every verse copy Jesus, and say, “It is written.”

Finally, fight temptation the way Jesus did. It works.

 

[Gordon 7]

Reject and fight negative thoughts and turn them into positive thoughts. My favorite Aunt was broke, divorced, and raised two kids on her own. But she always insisted on being positive, and she always had joy. Consider studying “Positive thoughts” verses if this is hard for you.

Proverbs 17:22 ESV A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Satan has the right to help you mess up “If” your thoughts are allowed to linger in anger, self-pity, discouragement, fear, and a list of 100 other negative emotions. We must think the way the Bible says to think. Satan loses his right to overwhelm you when your thoughts consist of love, purpose, praise, thanksgiving, and 100 other positive thoughts.

Second, the Bible says “Death, and life are in the power of the tongue.” Your words and thoughts have power over your life. If I tell people how rotten my life is, I have started down a wrong road. If I tell people how great my God is, and how He will help me through my problems, I have started down a great road. My Aunt always chose the great road in my experience.

Third, pray over the armor of God passage (Ephesians 6:10-18). Pray about truth, righteousness, peace, and faith. Consider asking God to teach you how to put on the armor of God.

Finally, fight the frustration that others cause. We can argue with others for hours or for seconds. We can be upset with others for hours or for seconds. We can pray consistently that God will help us decrease in anger, help us to stop arguing, and help us to focus on other things instead of being upset with others.

Fight frustrations that we cause ourselves. Some of us choose to live our life in a way that causes us pain. Then when the pain blasts us, we fall. The key is to realize that we must stop making choices that cause us intense pain. Because otherwise, it is hard to quit. Key point: We are at our greatest temptation point when our frustration makes us feel like we are justified to fall. But these points are the crossroads to where we can find joy, power, and freedom when we attack with key scriptures, and pass the test.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

We always have a choice. Will we #1 run from sin, will we #2 attack sin, will we #3 fiddle around with sin? Option 1 leads to blessing and the beginning of joy. Option 2 gives us a focus and a plan. Option 3 leads to destruction.

I say 4 times per year that life is like a classic vampire movie. If you keep your house sealed and don't invite the monster in... You will be good. How do we break the seal? With sin. How do we invite the monster in? With repeated habitual sin.

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

I have maybe told 800,000 people to war to war with sin. Many did not listen. Why? Because they did not understand how powerful the things that they unleashed were.

Bibleref.com noted, "Rulers" seem to indicate a top level of evil spiritual forces. "Authorities" refer to general forces of evil attacking believers. "Cosmic powers" seems to refer to the worldwide nature of this spiritual battle. "Evil in the heavenly places" again emphasizes a battle beyond this world.” Consider praying:

“Father, remind me that I am wrestling with dark powers. Remind me to increase Your power in my life with Your Words of truth.”

Joseph ran from temptation. Why? Because he understood that powerful forces were about to be unleashed. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to fear the dark forces. I will not give them a foothold anymore. I will stay sealed.”

I could not stop my habit ever... Once I gave it even one inch. Why? The dark forces assistance always was too much. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to run instantly from temptation.”

Instant turning keeps the monsters out. Stay sealed, keep them out.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

There was an old show called One day at a time. If you are struggling you think, “I can never quit this.” In that show the single mom was working and raising two kids. She could not handle life, but she could handle today. She could handle one day at a time. Don't try to solve impossible long-term problems today. If you need to work on that problem, plan how long you will work on it. Then... Stop thinking about it. Next, think about how to handle today, how to enjoy today, how to fight bad habits today.

Second, aways work on the “Complaining habit.”

Numbers 11:1 One day the Israelites started complaining about their troubles. The Lord heard them and became so angry that he destroyed the outer edges of their camp with fire.” God does not like complaining. It also often leads to darkness, then sin, and then often back to addiction after we convince ourselves that our lives stink.

Instead, God says to rejoice always and give thanks for all things.

Philippians 2:14 ESV Do all things without grumbling or disputing.” Consider praying:

"Father, help me not to complain."

#1 How popular will I be if I am Mr. Negative?

#2 Complaining puts us in a worse mood. Forgive, and forget. Or ignore the issue if possible.

#3 Complaining helps us believe the theory “Life stinks,” on a higher level.

James 5:9 ESV Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

1 Corinthians 10:10 ESVNor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.”

God insists that we work on the habit of not complaining.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESVGive thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Consider focusing on making it a habit to praise the Lord, give thanks, or to rejoice every time you are tempted to complain. That habit will make you happier, and it will help in the fight against _____.

For the full article click.

 

[Gordon 7]

Attack your #1 temptation with constant prayer. Write down your #1 temptation _____________

__________________. Assume a sex addict says, “Risky TV scenes make temptation skyrocket. They may start with a prayer saying what they will stop doing and what they will start doing:

“Father, help me to turn-from-lust, and help me to fear the destruction it causes.”

Second, consider writing your prayer, replacing the first half of this prayer with your #1 temptation.

Third, every time you pray your prayer it should be done thoughtfully, with a full, and sincere desire to change. With that complete dedication, now you can pray that prayer a lot.

Fourth, have a plan of escape when triggered.

Here are escape ideas from goodrx.com:

Calling a loved one, mental health professional, or a sponsor

• Attending a self-help meeting
• Focusing on the negatives linked to falling
• “Playing the tape” by thinking through the consequences of acting on your triggers
• Exercising
• Watching a movie or listening to music
• Eating a healthy snack

For most people, dealing with triggers comes down to two clear options:

1) You can either avoid the triggers at all costs.

2) Or you can confront them with a solid relapse prevention plan.

Fifth, Jesus is supposed to be our praise and our pleasure. Consider praying:

“Father, You are my pleasure, I praise You today.”

You may say, “I don't even know how to make God my pleasure, why should I pray that?”

I pray that prayer often because that is how I want life to someday be. I don't live my life perfect. I think other pleasures are really important. They aren't.

Every time I do things God's way my joy starts to increase. Making God my pleasure is doing things God's way. I want to do things God's way.

 

[Gordon 7]

1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”​

Wrong people lead to bad thoughts which lead to...

Wrong people, wrong TV, wrong phone viewing, I could list 100 ways we keep bad company. Today, consider decreasing your wrong ______ with something right and good. What will you do instead?

2 Peter 2:19-3:12 ESV They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”​

Consider praying:

“Father, I am a slave to _______. Help me to go to war with the things and sins that lead me to ________.”

Today, consider identifying your “Second sin.” Not your main habit, the second one. Wednesday, I wrote about praying constantly about the main habit. But, since sin leads to sin, we should consider praying constantly about the things that lead to _______.

Why? The main habit enslaves. But, we may not yet understand how the 2nd one enslaves, but it does, plus it leads to darkness, and darkness leads us back to __________.

Second, people fight my “War against sin approach.” But, this passage says it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than to turn away from it.

My Psychologist daughter has said that Christians struggling with habits are messed up even more than other people. Without knowing it, she agrees with the above verse.

Today, consider escaping from that group by committing to the way of righteousness.

There is “no” joy without righteousness.

Proverbs 6:27 ESV Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?​

Finally, consider spending time every day planning how you will avoid having temptations fire next to your chest.

The man who stays farthest from the huge campfire has the least chance of getting burned.

 

[Gordon 7]

We all think that our habit is (or was)) the greatest thing on earth to do. It is not. Other activities are better. The challenge is… To understand the whole equation, instead of just focusing on the pleasure.
Bad habits cause destruction. Sometimes twice as much destruction as we think. Consider praying:
“Father, show me the full destruction that ______ is causing me.”
Second, we need to dry out from the habit for weeks before the new activities will be fun. We just need to do the new activities instead, in frustration until our brain resets, allowing us to once again enjoy the new activities.
Third, pray about which activities you should try.
Fourth, have lists of activities to do. Try praising the Lord while you do the activity.
Fifth, often the first 10 to 15 minutes of the activity is the hardest. Pray to be content constantly during these first difficult minutes.
Example of how to fight to start a new activity. I get a cheap keyboard, and decide to play for 30 minutes daily. I start playing. I am unhappy, this is not what I “want” to do. I pray “Help me to be content” about every 22 seconds. After 10 minutes I am doing a tiny bit better but still…
I think, I will keep going. I will be aware of the destruction of _______. “Father, remind me of the destruction of _________.” I am going to try this activity for 30 days. Until then, it might not be great, but the equation is better. Way less destruction. I will do the things I need to do to someday live in joy, and peace. My week and month will be way better, if my life is clean and right. I will be healthier, and happier.
Fight, pray, plan, win.

 

[Gordon 7]

If you study Matthew 7 you see that repentance is a consistent condition of those who go to heaven. Recently, I have realized that when I wake up in the morning, my mind is dark and wanting sin. Why? The Bible says that satan is the ruler of this world.

To fight against him, we must constantly repent and start again, even when a new day starts. Consider praising the Lord for a few minutes to start your day right.

Second, 1st Corinthians says that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Revelations 12 calls satan “The one deceiving the whole world. Satan will tell you: That verse means ______. Do not be deceived. Keep reading the verse until “You” know what it means. Don't listen to what people say.

Is the person “explaining” that verse deceived by satan? Well, since the “Whole world” is deceived by satan, certainly, most of the people explaining verses might be deceived.

Third, do you want to “know” what verses mean?

#1 Keep reading key verses over and over again.

#2 Ask God what they mean.

#3 Read them again “after” you have fully repented.

#4 Look up Bible commentary on the verse. Often these experts are looking right at the Greek, and usually it is hard for them to steer too far from the truth.

#5 Pray over the verse, or verses for 5 or 10 minutes.

Fourth, most of us are not going to measure up to the Bible verse that says, “Be ye perfect.” But we can try, try, and try again.

Fifth, that verse says that the Bible standard is trying to be perfect, trying to be righteous.

Sixth, when we are trying to do God's will, we start to understand why we need to try harder to go to war against sin. When Jesus spoke about who would inherit the Kingdom of heaven, He said, “Only those who do the will of the Father.” Consider praying:

“Father, help me to fight sin, and show me Your will.”

It would be hard to pray that one too much.

Seventh, here is the link to the sermon this article is based loosely on. Note: If you are not pastor Steve's religion, me neither. But, he is a man of God, and it is a great sermon.

Finally, repent, repent, and repent again. God wants people who are moving forward. I am committed to moving forward, and to trying even harder every day.

 

[Gordon 7]

Set exercise goals. People who start to feel better, who move around, improve their ability to fight habits. Start slow and work your way up.

Set Bible reading goals. Reading the Bible fills you with the Spirit. The Spirit will be a great help with fighting habits. Remember, sin changes that equation.

Set fighting sin goals. The more you fight sin, the more the power of the Spirit stays on you. The more the Spirit stays on you, the easier it is to fight habits.

Set activity goals. Clean activities keep bad thoughts and actions at bay. Be tough, and insist on trying new things, and sticking with some of them no matter what.

Set prayer goals. Praying is the highlight of my day. Consider searching online: “Learn how to pray.” Prayer allows the Holy Spirit to guide you, help you, and make you the person you want to be.

Set “New thoughts” goals. Ideas: Think about love more, helping others, short prayers, and keeping the peace. Consider searching: “What should Christians think about.”

Set "Turn from lust goals." How many times per day do you commit to praying, "Father, help me to turn from lust, and fill me with Your love?

Finally, Set a goal of being the person who fixes relationships. Consider praying:

“Father, take away my quarreling spirit. I will be the peacemaker.”

Allow people to have an opinion. Allow people to be wrong about something. Forgive and forget when people abuse you. Note: I have dished out more than my fair share of abuse. Today, I will allow others to be a wreck, just like I was a wreck when I struggled in the past. Today I will keep my joy. Jesus is my joy. My life does not have to be perfect to have joy. My life just has to put Jesus on the throne and keep Him there to have joy.