THE BEST SPIRITUAL WAY TO FIGHT TEMPTATION

[Gordon 7]

Proverbs seven is a warning against sleeping with an adultress. But, what if you are quitting gambling, smoking or something else, how does that chapter help?

21 With her enticing speech she caused him to yield,”

With habits either we say, or think, or listen to someone who says: Do this!

When we hear/think that, say: No!

With every temptation start fighting every time by saying No!

No one believes that if you say 100 times today:

“I will stay pure, and free today,” that it would be a perfect long term solution. I agree, we need a more biblical approach. But, if you want to stay free today, say it 100 times. It will make it twice as easy to stay pure and free from your habit just from saying it.

My “flesh” tries to cause me to yield. I will fight it and say no!

Next: Verse 21 “With her flattering lips she seduced him.”

She lured him. There is something about your habit that lures you. Stop for one minute and think about what lures you.

The fish sees the lure. I watch and think: That fish is so stupid. The lure has a hook waiting. Obviously, the lure leads to disaster. But unless that fish says “No” and swims the other way, it will be in trouble. When an animal near a trap keeps looking, keeps sniffing, and keeps their focus on the lure, they will be trapped sooner or later.

Second, the last seven verses of the chapter remind one vividly of the destruction that happens when we think about and focus on the lure.

Third, saying no is smart, quoting a Bible verse to fight temptation adds Jesus' power to the mix. That's a nice one-two punch.

Know what your lure is. Then have a plan for how you will react when you are lured.

 

[Gordon 7]

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

We can learn a lot from a heroin addict. After 6 years of self-indulgence, their life has changed. It's harder to keep friends. It's harder to enjoy a simple TV show or ballgame. Work loses value and interest in their minds. Wait... everything is starting to lose value and interest in their minds. Everything except their addiction.

If you are around hard-core addicts they are sometimes almost zombie-like. Completely empty.

Lust is a bit more subtle. Sometimes anyways. But even when it is more subtle in how it steals more and more things from you. If you sit down and think about it, it will be pretty obvious.

Satan says that there are disadvantages to being only Spiritually minded. He says you will miss out on the fun. But, when he tells you that, read the verse again. Which part of death is fun.

Life is always more fun when we do things God's way. But in order for that to be true we need to strive to follow God's ways. I will repeat an earlier thread: Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Pray one million times: "Father, show me the plans You have for me."

Consider memorizing: To be spiritually minded is life and peace.

If our goal is to follow God's plan... life will always be, way more fun.

When we set a goal to be spiritually minded, we find life, peace, and a future.

 

[Gordon 7]

The first point of this thread is to make “NO” exceptions to the rule of turning aggressively from sin. The big-time preacher thinks “I will only look this one last time. She is my favorite movie star.” What he does not understand is that satan won. Next, his wife lets him down... well he allowed satan in – he is in – hard to resist him now. Financial trouble at the church, down, down, down. Now his habit has turned the power completely off at the church.

All because “She” was special.

Proverbs 6 says: "Do not lust after her beauty in your heart." This verse is not banning looking at a beautiful woman. It is banning looking with lust.

So, when you are in a situation where a stunning woman is, or when you see one on TV or at the movies. The more you like or are attracted to that person, the more it is wise to pray fervently and constantly.

In our above example, the preacher might have had 60 days free. Satan would have been “out” to some extent. Satan's battle was being lost. But... satan had his “special” girl laying a beautiful trap. Don't step into his trap.

Consider praying: “Father, help me to make no exceptions. Help me to turn aggressively from sin in every situation.”

David gave in to a beautiful woman and his son was stillborn. Samson was likely tempted and gave in to the most beautiful woman in the land. He got his eyes poked out.

Finally, what if you are praying fervently and constantly and in the end, your favorite movie star stayed modest. Congratulations... you have started a habit that is one of the building blocks for staying free forever.

 

[Gordon 7]

Today I am reviewing the video “A quick way to overcome addiction.” Firstly, while this video is not perfect, it is very helpful with several great ideas.

The video states that when we do a pleasurable activity for a while, our dopamine spikes. Then, after we quit, our dopamine crashes to a level that was even lower than what our level was before we started.

This crash causes, a lack of motivation, tiredness, anxiety, a difficulty feeling pleasure from other experiences that formerly gave pleasure, a feeling of hopelessness, trouble sleeping, and more.

Then they recommend doing nothing (rest, relaxation) until your dopamine recovers.

Second, I agree that when we do pleasurable sinful activities, or activities in excess, that their theory, makes sense.

However, quitting is 51% what we “do,” and 49% what we stop doing. Can we do pleasurable activities without draining dopamine?

Prayer

I recommend a block of prayer about purpose, quitting sin habits, increasing in love, and many other Christian things. My dopamine rises when I pray. My pleasure increases. But... it also stays high after I stop praying.

I recommend reading through the Bible in one year (About 5 chapters per day). You can find Bibles that show you how, articles, apps, etc. For me, my pleasure increases when I read the Bible because I strongly want to learn how to change. When we sincerely read the Bible with a desire that the Holy Spirit increases in us, it will give us pleasure. Again, our pleasure increases all day because of this activity. Note: Reading the Bible only increases our pleasure after we submit to God, and want to do His will.

Third, when I work on praising the Lord, and giving thanks, my dopamine increases. But, it stays high as long as I do things God's way, and keep praising Him.

Fourth, when I set an alarm and pray every 30 minutes:

“Father, help me to fight thoughts of _______, and fill me with Your love.”

Note: Have 1-2 replacement thoughts, or verses ready every day.

When Jesus increases His love in us our dopamine rises. Once again, it does not crash, it stays high.

When I truly fight and struggle to do things God's way, to try to struggle to help other, to try to do what He wants. Dopamine rises. But the Spirit rises in us as well. No crash.

Obviously, we need to be ready to follow Jesus for all of these things to work magically as written. Obviously, we still will get tired at some point. But, when we do things God's way we might actually be able to sleep for a change.

The Challenge

It took me quite a while to get all of these habits fully in place.

Second, I was not fully dedicated at first, so I did not fully get perfect results.

Third, I was a hopeless addict, going back to my habit, consistently. When we keep going back, and going back, our joy will be limited for a season even when we do right.

Solution

Consider working on forming healthy habits first every day. Consider working on finding “glimpses” of joy every day. See what it is like to live “In the Light” instead of in the sewer. Notice how good life has become because you did a few things right.

Finally, it's a great video, lots of great points, and... if you tap deeply into Christianity, you can add to those great ideas, and have a far superior way of quitting.

 

[Gordon 7]

When tempted, consider leaving your room. Let’s be honest here, when we’re tempted why should we stick around? It’s best to leave your house and go for a walk to evade the temptation.

Second, the Bible says to “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

When tempted, try watching videos and testimonies on hell. It basically scares you into obedience.

Next, learn from your sins. If TikTok features things that make you fall, delete TikTok. What do you watch most? If it is your phone, or YouTube, consider constantly doing “Christian searches” to change and clean up your feed. Consider searching: Christian music, quitting sin habits, great sermons, increasing in love, and quitting _____ (Fill in the blank with your habit).

Third, consider focusing on Jesus when tempted. Think of him on the cross. Think of Jesus being crucified in detail, this somehow works.

Fourth, be productive. If a Christian just sits around in his room all day, gaming, scrolling, reading, then he/she will get tempted more. It’s good to stay productive, such as exercise or something outdoorish.

Fifth (This one worked on me) But ask God for punishments if you relapse again; This will put fear in you into not doing it. Note: I got some of these suggestions from a friend. If you study Dueteronomy 28 you will learn whether you need to ask for them, or if they happen anyway.

He finishes with: But the best one is probably fleeing the scene. It worked on me last week.

The more tips you memorize for fighting back, the easier it will be to fight back.

 

[Gordon 7]

Many activities can become positive addictions, but they will all differ in terms of how much they help you stay clean permanently. Let's look at 5 activities: Playing the guitar, reading, vigorous exercise, teaching at church, and teaching others how to quit addictions.

Things like playing music, reading, and exercising rank high as distraction activities because they tend to take our minds to a new place. But things like teaching at church and helping others have several other benefits. Firstly, people who are teaching have to develop more expertise and more skills. Secondly, the Holy Spirit empowers those who are helping others. Because they need to be empowered.

But whichever activity you choose you will know if it becomes a positive addiction when the following occur. You start to do it daily, you love it, and now you are almost compelled to do this good activity.

Positive addictions lower temptation. If in a few months you have developed a bunch of them – you will be on the road to real success.

Today, start the positive addiction of praying about your God-given purpose. Then follow up that prayer with trying to do something to help somebody. This may be the very positive addiction you need to start in order to quit for good.

Today, consider writing down which positive addictions you will consider trying.

 

[Gordon 7]

I recommended wearing a rubber band and snapping it when I had a lustful thought. I was shocked by the result. Background: The Bible says: “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.”

When I praised the Lord after snapping my wrist (as a reminder to not have lustful thoughts) my lustful thoughts dropped by 80%.

This shows that the dark forces mentioned in that verse are popping thoughts in my mind a lot. It also shows that they don't want to be around us when we are praising the Lord all the time.

Plus even when it is my thought and not theirs, I don't want to think that way. I need to get rid of any fantasies or lustful thoughts.

Key point: snap it, then say, “Praise the Lord.”

Secondly, pray. Jesus had the daily habit of prayer. Virtually all great Bible Christians had the habit of a chunk of time in prayer daily. The Bible says: 6 “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” This means: Ask for God's guidance in “All decisions,” and He will direct your path.

Thirdly, the Bible says: Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Memorize this verse. God's way “Adds,” and leads to victory. This verse will open your mind up to the great life that God wants for you.

Snap it. What we do starts in the mind. Free your mind and you will be free.

 

[Gordon 7]

Mark Shaw wrote in his great book “The heart of addiction:”

“Physical addiction occurs when you repeatedly satisfy a natural appetite and desire with a temporary pleasure until you become the servant of the temporary object of pleasure rather than its master. You can use the temporarily pleasurable substance to escape, but in reality, you find that you are enslaved rather than free. Addiction is a trap that lets you think that you will be “free” when you really become a “slave.”

Romans 6:16 “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”

19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.”

Many are put off by my “We need to go to war with all sin” sayings. But... we are either a slave to sin or a slave to righteousness.

Secondly, yesterday (July 11th 2022) I got a bit sloppy with my TV viewing. Although I did not “fall” my joy level fell.

Today I am going to be aggressive about turning from lust. Praying in advance of any tempting situations and practicing turning aggressively from temptation.

Consider praying: “Father, help me to turn aggressively from lust” as many times as it takes to keep stable.

Consider praying: “Father, show me how being a slave to righteousness is a key to my joy.”

Memorize Romans 6:16. We will be a slave to either sin or a slave to obedience. Please choose the choice that God recommends.

 

[Gordon 7]

Proverbs 16 And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.”

We depart from evil when we “often” remind ourselves that God is watching everything we do.

We depart from evil when we “often” remind ourselves that we will be judged for everything we do.

Gotquestions.org notes: “The link between the fear of God and wisdom means we cannot possess wisdom if we recreate God in our own image. Too many people want to “tame” God into a non-threatening nobody. But, if we redefine the Lord as a god that makes us feel comfortable, a permissive “buddy” who exists simply to bless us and give us what we want, we will not fear Him in the way He deserves to be feared.”

Our decisions based on the fear of the Lord should be based on His approval. Decisions based on what the Bible says.

We depart from evil when we “often” think of the consequences of disobeying Him.

“But the LORD of hosts, Him you shall honor as holy. Let Him be your fear and let Him be your dread.” Isaiah 8:13

beautifulinjesus.com noted: Proverbs 2:1-5 teaches us that there is a way to handle the Word of God that will cause us to understand the fear of God. We are told to lay hold of the Word of God like we would a prized possession and then treasure it by hiding it in our hearts, seeking to know it, understand it, and apply the wisdom from the Word of God in every area of our lives. Only then will we understand the fear of the Lord because it is rooted in the knowledge of His Word and how we handle it.”

Quitting by “The fear of the Lord” is a top 7 method for quitting. Consider praying:

“Father, I commit to fearing You. You are a great and mighty God.”

Second, my life is 100% better since I committed to living in the fear of God.

“Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack!” Psalm 34:9 ESV

3 years ago I had a huge lack of self-control, now I have some. Before going to war with this habit I had a huge lack of joy, now I have a lot of joy.

Consider putting “And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil,” into your phone, setting an alarm, and reading it every 30 minutes.

Consider working on your fear of the Lord for the next 12 months, then check back in with this verse: “For those who fear Him have no lack!” It may not happen fast, but if you are completely dedicated, it “will” happen sooner or later.

 

[Gordon 7]

Pain causes millions to fall. To quit, other ways of coping are needed.

Paul praised God in prison. When pain attacks us, we need to praise the Lord. The Bible tells us to praise the Lord 250 times. We “need” that habit when pain causes temptation to skyrocket. But, we also need that habit if we just want to obey the Bible. Consider working daily on forming that habit, that way it will someday be automatic even when pain causes temptation to skyrocket.

Second, the only real solution to pain is scripture. Other sinful solutions always cause more problems.

Third Job said, “Blessed be the name of the Lord,” during his trials. Job also praised the Lord during his trials and temptations.

Fourth, pain is often a test, it was a test for Job. He passed the test and God mightily blessed him in the end. It is important to be aware that pain is often a test. If I can't stay pure when _____ happens, how will I fulfill my God given purpose? If _____ keeps causing a fall, will I live my whole life with a minimum of God's blessings? If pain always knocks me off track, will I ever find real joy?

Fifth, a huge amount of Christians are 99% of the way to something great, then...

Finally, as always, feel free to print this out for your personal use.

Everyone who overcomes needs a set of steps to go through to learn how to handle pain and trials. What will you use as your set of steps for pain?

 

[Gordon 7]

When something bad happens, sometimes people use that as an excuse to live the way they want to live (sin). In the past I used to think thoughts like:

1 God is not giving me a fair shake

2 How could God let this happen

3 This is way too much to handle

4 Everybody is against me

5 My life always goes bad

6 Why did God let this happen

Should we ever think of any of these things or anything even close to these thoughts? Never! The Bible tells us what we should be thinking about: Things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

If we think wrong we will (99%) do wrong.

How To Think Right

Consider, copying and pasting new things to think about based on recent articles (U have permission to use my articles for personal use), Bible articles, sermons, etc. Have a file of things you should be thinking about. When you start thinking wrong, grab that file every time. At some point, you will start to make it a habit to think right. If you think right, you will do right.

 

[Gordon 7]

Jesus beat temptation by quoting memorized Bible verses. You can do the same thing. Here are Bible verses to consider.

When tempted, quote these verses. It really works.

Matthew 6:22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is [a]good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is [b]bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Colossians 3:5 ESVPut to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Job 31:1 ESV “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?​

Consider working daily to memorize these verses. Verses are the #1 tool for fighting bad habits.

 

[Gordon 7]

What if Jesus was magically transformed into a person with a huge habit? Furthermore, what if He decided he wanted to maximize His pleasure for one month? So the question is… would He still quit ______ if He truly had that goal? To get the answer we need to understand Jesus' belief about scripture. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death. For us, we sinned, we did not die, we are confused. Jesus is not confused by the scripture. He knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that with sin something always dies, or starts to die, or partially dies.

Jesus would also know that the Bible says that doing God’s will brings fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. So… just as you suspected, He would quit immediately.

We will struggle to believe the Scripture until we pound and pound it into us. Consider printing out and memorizing the following:

“Eve did not believe that the wages of sin is death. She sinned and ate the apple and something died, something started to die and something partially died.”

Instead, believe the Bible when it says that living God's way leads to pleasures forevermore. Believing it, repeat it, live it, then do something good for someone the same way Jesus would.

 

[Gordon 7]

James 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is, first of all, pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

If your thoughts often stray toward lust, it is vital to have a daily plan for what you will think about instead. First, daily Bible reading should be a habit. Second, we can sometimes form our plan from that study. In this example from James, we could choose to pray and focus on wisdom, being pure, peace, love, and kindness as well as 5 other Christian traits.

Consider dedicating a page in your quitting notebook and titling it “Daily Plan.” Next, write out as many of the 9 things to think about that appeal to you. Then pick one for today. For today's example, I am picking peace. Consider praying:

***“***Father, take away this spirit of lust and fill me with Your peace.”

If you set an hourly alarm to remind you to pray and think about “todays” plan, you will learn a ton. #1 With your first alarm you may be reminded... I hate that I am driven ruthlessly by lust. Peace is way better. #2 With your 2nd alarm you may be reminded: People like me more when I stay calm. #3 With your 3rd alarm you may be reminded: Focusing on good things makes me think less about bad things. With your 4th alarm you may be reminded: With peace, I can enjoy a simple walk in the park, a clean TV show, a simple conversation with a friend.

But I really can't tell you the most important benefit to focusing on “todays” Christian plan, because the #1 thing it adds is that it allows the Holy Spirit to snap us out of our self-centered existence for a few minutes. Then, He can give us a little push in the exact direction where we need to go.

If we do that every hour this year... we will be thinking in a new way.

 

[Gordon 7]

God wants us to have a renewed mind. All habits begin in the mind. We allow ourselves to think of wrong things like gray area fantasies, that are only sort of evil. That only sort of leads back to addiction. They don't always lead back to addiction now, but they do lead back, sooner or later.

Satan is the king of using small little evil things to keep his foothold on you for life. But we can fight back by giving thanks for all things, by praising God all the time, and by worshiping Him all of the time. We are at war and we need to be fighting sin at all times.

iblp.org had the following great article:

"How to Conquer Sinful Habits

seven steps to victory

Is it actually possible to conquer destructive habits? Yes, because “with God, nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). Through the provision of God’s grace, you can take positive steps of action to experience victory over sinful habits.

1. Engraft Romans 6 and 8 into your soul.

To “engraft Scripture” means to make it a living extension of your life so that it can produce spiritual fruit. Just as branches can be grafted into a fruit tree, so Scripture can be grafted into your mind, will, and emotions. For example, as you engraft the truths of I Corinthians 13, you will bear the fruit of genuine love, and if you engraft the truths of I Peter, you will bear the fruit of patience during suffering.

Memorize Romans 6 and Romans 8 word for word. Then, begin to meditate on those passages, and apply them daily to your life. As you engraft Romans 6 and Romans 8 into your soul, you will start to bear the fruit of victory over sin.

2. Understand, and believe, that you are dead to sin.

Regardless of your feelings to the contrary, the Bible says that believers are dead to sin. God wants us to “reckon” ourselves to be dead to sin, which means to “count it to be so.” (See Romans 6:11.) If a seductive woman walked past a dead man, he would not even blink an eye. God wants us to have a comparable response to the power and appeal of sin—to react to temptation as a dead person would react to temptation.

You died to sin when you became a Christian. At that very moment, you became a part of Christ. Since you are a part of Christ, you share in all of His past achievements: when He was crucified, you were crucified with Him (see Galatians 2:20 and Colossians 3:20); when He was buried, you were buried too (see Romans 6:4); when He rose from the dead, you rose from the dead (see Colossians 3:1). Therefore, you are dead to sin (i.e., not controlled by its power). Choose to believe that truth.

3. Rely on God’s power by relying on His Word to “carry you away” from temptation.

When God led the children of Israel out of captivity in Egypt, He said that He “bare . . . [them] on eagles’ wings” (Exodus 19:4). The Lord “carried them to safety” with His power, and the Lord wants to do that for His children today as well. God wants to carry you away from temptation and destruction “on eagles’ wings.”

When you begin to fall into temptation, it won’t take many seconds of falling before you experience defeat. Satan wants us to believe that when we start falling, there is nothing we can do but surrender to his temptations and be defeated.

Don’t believe the devil! When you start to fall, begin to quote the living, active words of truth found in God’s Word (see Hebrews 4:12 and I Thessalonians 2:13), especially those found in Romans 6 and Romans 8: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin . . . ? God forbid. . . .” (Romans 6:1–2). As you use the sword of the Spirit to battle against the wiles of the devil (see Ephesians 6:10–18), the temptation will lose its power and appeal, and God will carry you on eagles’ wings out of temptation’s reach. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus will lift you above the law of sin and death. (See Romans 8:1–13.)

 

[Gordon 7]

To fight negative emotions we have to stop thinking over and over again about the problem. Instead, do a Google search on the best Scriptures to memorize. Find a few that speak to you and get started. God is way bigger than the problem that triggered your emotions. Let Him speak to you through scripture.
Secondly, depression is not a Godly trait. To fight depression consider praying: "Father, what do You want me to do." Of course, you can do a bunch of the ideas listed on this site, and they will help. But... give God a chance to show you something.
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Consider praying one million times: "Father, show me the plans You have for me."
If you are obsessed with what God wants... you will be well on your way to defeating negative emotions.

Finally, if you add to this working on the habit of turning from lust, you will have just hit a grand slam home run.

 

[Gordon 7]

Satan will be right there fighting with you if you are determined to replace what he wants you to do with new activities.

Consider praying: “Father, help me to get active.”

Satan is even more upset if you decide that sin is the problem.

Consider praying: “Father, show me how fighting sin will improve my life.”

Psalms 23 starts: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Wow! When we do things God's way we will not “want” for anything.

Satan says to skip your daily Bible reading, skip going to church. But if you listen to him you start to cut God's promises out of the Bible. One after another.

Satan reminds you that you struggle to spend time in prayer. Here is the thing. We need to thoroughly repent of all sin first. We need to have a perfect plan to change first. Then... spending time in prayer will be the highlight of our day.

Here is what to do if you are determined to learn how to pray, but the truth is – you have no idea how to do it. Read a chapter in the Bible. Consider praying about it or anything on your heart. Read one article from this site, pray about it for 5 minutes. Read another article from this site, pray 5 minutes, read 1 or 2 of the verses for quitting, pray 5 minutes about them, rinse and repeat for an hour.

Five-star spiritual activities are spectacular for quitting. These include daily Bible study, prayer, getting together with other believers, studying here, and helping others. Make it a priority to do your spiritual activities first. Then, make it a priority to add practical activities. For most people, both are needed.

 

[Gordon 7]

Two groups of people have struggles over the holidays. Those that are alone, and those who are with people they struggle to get along with. The first paragraph is for those who are alone, the second for those with problematic people.


The Bible tells us to “Give thanks in every thing.” Ouch! Home alone, give thanks? Yes. If we are actively trying to do things God's way, plus if we are regularly giving thanks, then, the Holy Spirit will increase in us.


Second, work constantly on the “Praise the Lord” habit.


Third, find an article here or online about things to do. Then practice the above two habits while you try new activities. Be determined to give God a chance to show you that He is with you. You 100% can make it if He is with you.


Finally, when problems arise, stop and think about this perfect opportunity to think about Jesus, improving your closeness to Jesus. If Jesus is close... you will stay firm.


Problematic People


Determine to be the peacemaker. Consider praying:


“Father, take away this quarreling spirit, and help me to be the peacemaker.”


Second, give thanks for the people around you. This includes everyone, even spouses, even if you are mad at them.


Third, include God in the celebration. Practice the “Praise the Lord” habit during the celebration.


Finally, when problems arise, stop and think about this perfect opportunity to think about Jesus, improving your closeness to Jesus. If Jesus is close... you will stay firm.

 

[Gordon 7]

Vampire films were the rage 20-30 years ago. In the classic version, you had to invite the dark one in. When you were in your sealed house you were safe unless you invited the dark one in.

When we repent and have a plan for turning from lust we are sealed. But when we look and don't instantly turn from lust we have allowed the opening.

Every day in every situation we need to focus on keeping our house sealed. We have 2 great reasons for keeping it sealed. #1 to avoid the destruction. #2 to continue to seek an increased blessing in our lives.

Any sin weakens our seal. Sin... takes us away from God's joy and it forces us to chase fun and pleasure like some zombie in a classic film.

Meditating on scripture strengthens the seal. I am currently up to 12 verses that I meditate on every day in the morning.

Preparing for temptation with prayer strengthens the seal. I have worked so hard on learning the skill of praying, “Father, help me to turn from lust,” that now it is virtually automatic.

A full commitment strengthens the seal. We spend time in Bible study and prayer because of that commitment. We commit to spending a block of time every day at this site because of a full commitment to Christ.

Change always involves sacrifice. God always gives us more than we expect when we make that sacrifice permanently.

 

[Gordon 7]

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

I have been reading Proverbs this month. Actually, studying it. I like to pause and think about a verse like this one until I know it (Consider memorizing it).

When people read the word perish, many think of hell. For me that is only part of the meaning, I see struggling Christians living a perishing lifestyle all the time.

Instead, live a prospering lifestyle by having a vision for doing the things that overcoming Christians do. Consider working daily on the habit of having a vision for quitting. Consider spending 3 minutes daily meditating on your vision for quitting.

Why should we make it such a huge priority? Because, “He that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

Why have a quitting notebook that you work on daily as if it is one of the most important things you do? Because, we want to be happy.

Please memorize at least the last half of this verse. What if Christians were happy? How fast would the church grow?

When Christians are happy they often do God's will. Why? Because, happy people want to lift up and help others.

It's verses like this one that have inspired me to reread Proverbs as soon as I finish it. Great wisdom in this book. What will you change to try to increase in happiness?

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

I have been reading Proverbs this month. Actually, studying it. I like to pause and think about a verse like this one until I know it (Consider memorizing it).

When people read the word perish, many think of hell. For me that is only part of the meaning, I see struggling Christians living a perishing lifestyle all the time.

Instead, live a prospering lifestyle by having a vision for doing the things that overcoming Christians do. Consider working daily on the habit of having a vision for quitting. Consider spending 3 minutes daily meditating on your vision for quitting.

Why should we make it such a huge priority? Because, “He that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

Why have a quitting notebook that you work on daily as if it is one of the most important things you do? Because, we want to be happy.

Please memorize at least the last half of this verse. What if Christians were happy? How fast would the church grow?

When Christians are happy they often do God's will. Why? Because, happy people want to lift up and help others.

It's verses like this one that have inspired me to reread Proverbs as soon as I finish it. Great wisdom in this book. What will you change to try to increase in happiness?