THE BEST SPIRITUAL WAY TO FIGHT TEMPTATION

[Gordon 7]

When you enter a realm of temptation like TV, the beach, or many other places, be aware that satan will whisper to you, encouraging disobedience. When this happens, you have two choices. Firstly, be confused and let whatever happens happen. Or secondly, fight back.

Example one: You are at the beach and you notice “somebody.” WWJD – He would quote Psalm 119:37 - "Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word."

Interesting... now our mind has some awareness that looking with lust is “worthless.” Now we are being reminded that the Word will preserve our life. On the flip side, if we don't fight back with the Word, our life may not be preserved. Ouch.

Example two: You are in the middle of an exciting TV show, and here it comes, sin, sin, sin. To fight back quote 1 Corinthians 6:18 - " Flee sexual immorality.”

If the scene is not that big of a deal, shield your eyes, forward fast and move on. But, if it is a big deal, and especially if it is a constant theme: quote Colossians 3:5 Therefore, put to death what belongs to your worldly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.”

Now, this is just my opinion, but I don't think that looking at a beautiful woman is idolatry. However, looking at her with lust seems like it is. So, if a TV show is throwing constant lust at you, the best way to put it “to death” is to turn it off. Then... satan will tell you there is nothing else good on TV. Don't believe his “lie.” There are plenty of clean shows out there. Plus if you are praising God and worshiping Him during the clean show, you just might have a great life.

 

[Gordon 7]

Yesterday I had my worst bout of temptation that I have had in months. This confused me because it should not have been an overly tempting situation. I wondered, why is this small thing tempting me? As I was almost asleep last night I thought – did I read my Bible chapters this morning?

The next morning I checked: I had forgotten to read the Bible on Thursday. Did not mean to, I just clean forgot. The Bible says:

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

The lion is “Seeking whom he may devour.” Lions seek the most careless zebra, attack it, and devour it. Skipping our daily devotions opens us up to attack.

Daily devotions are a most important habit.

Second: To quit a habit we decide to do new activities and then we do them. They are not for fun, play, pleasure, or profit. It is wise to treat them like work or some great difficult goal. My new book is on sale tomorrow with 99% new material. Here is an article about alternate activities from it:

1. Example: I decide my new activity is playing the piano. First I set a goal: 30 minutes per day. # 2 Decide exactly when you will do it: 6:30 PM. # 3 Say 10 times daily why you need to do this activity: “I need to play the piano so that I stop being a slave to ______.” # 4 Consider praying, “Father take away this spirit of lust, and show me how playing the piano will help me to do Your will someday.”
2. Spiritual goals should be # 1 in life. But after that, your activity goals should sometimes be the next most important. But what about family? It is a balance, a juggling game that you need to play until you get healthy. One solution to the family question is to work out with them. Do a hobby with them.
3. New activities are not great fun if you are really addicted. Addiction uses up all our fun and leaves us dark and empty. So keep this in mind. The exact same activities that you don't love in week one of quitting seem a lot better in week 4 after you have been clean for a month and are in a good place with God.
4. Someday, some of your new activities will become positive addictions. I lift weights every day. I play either the piano or bass guitar virtually every day. I write articles about addiction every day and I do many other things every day.
5. Secondly, I want to try to explain how life gets better after we quit. With addiction, we move from fun event (hopefully) to fun event. Trying to find answers, fun, thrills. With freedom plus Jesus, we start to find increasing joy, and answers. With addiction, we watch TV always searching frantically for thrills. With freedom plus Jesus, we start to enjoy clean TV and we start to find contentment. With addiction, there are no answers. With freedom plus Jesus, we start to find a purpose for living. With addiction, we are driven, driven, driven. A constant flurry of trying to find... I don't know what. With freedom plus Jesus, we can ask Jesus what He wants us to do. Then we are filled with His peace and we can do His will. With addiction, we sometimes struggle with family and people. With freedom plus Jesus, we learn how important it is to live in love.

New activities are key. They will change your life if you make it a priority to do them daily. Consider praying often:

“Father, help me to be ready to do new activities.”

Finally, idle hands are the devils workshop. Consider making activity plans so that you can avoid his workshop.

 

[Gordon 7]

It is wise to learn the Flee from sin habit. It is wise to learn the flee from temptation habit.

What emotions, circumstances, or other things lead to severe temptation? If we know what leads to temptation, we can prepare in advance of temptation.

A person who prays:

“Father, I will change my thoughts of ______ to thoughts of loving others,”

is preparing for temptation. If one prays this 444 times in one day they are likely 99 to 100% prepared for the upcoming temptation.

Then temptation happens, and they flee. Their preparation paid off.

Second, have an alternative activity planned. When you flee from temptation, do your alternative activity enthusiastically unto God. Consider that activity as part of your work toward quitting.

Third, today, consider writing down 3-5 reasons why you should flee. After you flee review these goals. Often this simple exercise is cool water taking you slowly down from your short-term destructive desire.

Fourth, after you flee say 20 times:

“I believe that God's ways are best.” Consider praying:

“Father, show me often that Your ways are best. I am trying to learn.”

I am working on one of my secondary habits. My country thinks this practice is good and the Bible says it is bad. Being here makes going to war with it a challenge. But I am praying prayers like the above one and now I am starting to understand why the Bible says what it says.

Fifth, fasting. Fasting from food is great. It works great. Fasting from the thing that tempts you the most is fantastic. The porn guy who still looks at bikini girls will still be the porn guy. The drinker who still watches party movies, the gambler who still hangs out with gambling friends, the... Wait, we get the idea. If we flee, or fast from the things that lead to things that tempt us the most, we will have less temptation.

Consider writing down 2-4 things that lead toward temptation.

As always, feel free to print this out for your own personal use.

Finally, my new book The Fighting Lust Christian Workbook is on sale. Starting Saturday the price is $1.00 for one day then it slowly increases in price. 99% of the articles have never been on Reddit. It is 690 pages so you can read until your eyes fall out.

My current Reddit articles are for all bad habits. This book's articles are all specifically for lust, porn, and sex habits. Additionally, you can find specific articles to help you with your daily needs with the huge index.

Check it out. Please leave a good review if you like it.

 

[Gordon 7]

Philippians 2:12 says “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

This is one of two great verses to memorize from this chapter if you want to be free from habits, and if you want to start to have joy.

I don't work out my salvation fully the way this verse says to. I don't pay enough attention to the Bible verses that say what will happen if I ignore them. I assume everything will be okay.

Second, when we stop assuming and start repenting, everything starts to improve. When we start to believe and “live” this verse, everything starts to improve.

I need to stop chasing pleasure and other worthless things, and I need to think and pray about scripture more often. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to think, and pray about this verse often.”

Third, Philippians 2:15 says, do this that we may become: “Without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”

God wants people who overcome and then shine. We are fighting sin so that we start to be a shining light to people who want help. Who want change.

Fourth, never say: “I can't quit, or I will never be a shining light.”

Instead consider saying: I will quote these verses often. I will pray quitting prayers often. I will replace bad thoughts with saying: “Praise the Lord.” I will make it a priority to love God and love others.

Fifth, my daughter will be a senior on the varsity volleyball team this year. She has very little confidence. Her older sister was a star who won multiple championships.

The thing is: She has put in the work to be a champion. Others disagree with me when I say how dramatically she has improved. But, I will say it again: She has put in the work to overcome. I know that she will have a great season, she has put in the work.

Sixth, many are trying to add positive habits, and the success is so, so, slow. Just like my daughter, your belief is not super high today.

But, if you put in the work, you will overcome. I 100% believe that you will quit.

Finally, what if you just can't do it? You are putting in all this work, and you just can't make it. You have tried all of these techniques for months and you still can't quit. Well, congratulations. You have put in the work. God was/is watching. When you ask Him for the 1800 time: “Please help me to quit,” you finally realize, now you are finally “truly” ready to quit. The reasons you were not ready to quit 2-4-6-12 weeks ago have been ironed out by putting in the work.

Keep working, that day will happen.

Last, my new book is on sale, see yesterday's article for more info.

 

[Gordon 7]

Bad things happen. We don't fall because bad things happen, we fall because we are not ready for bad things to happen. In the next few days, or weeks your boss, or spouse, or someone will scream at you. Your finances may get hit. Something bad will happen.

If we react to bad things happening the way the Bible says to react, life will be way better. If we study Philippians 4 to help us react correctly, we can make it through bad things without falling, and without making them worse.

Philippians 4 says “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Let's say your car breaks, and you have... well, part of the money to fix it. This chapter says to rejoice over this event. To rejoice, you might think: I have a great, huge God. How does He want me to react and think in this situation?

Second, consider thinking: How would Jesus handle this? How would Paul handle this? How does God want me to change based on this problem so that I can be the person He wants me to be?

Third, we in Michigan will rejoice if the Lions win the Superbowl this year. We will cheer and scream and be very excited about it.

Is the Bible telling us to react like that when bad things happen?

Paul used bad things happening to learn how to access the power of God. To learn to give thanks in all things. To learn to praise the Lord all the time.

Philippians 4 is the “Think about these things” chapter.

Philippians 4:8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Fourth, when bad things happen, set aside a proper amount of time to assess the problem, and to think about what you need to do to solve it (if possible). Then study this verse. Try to think about what this verse says to think about. If you are like me you might think: “I am a bit confused by what this verse wants me to think about.”

Good, when you are thinking about what the verse means, you are thinking about scripture. When you are trying to do what it says, you are trying to do what God wants.

Fifth, your problem will likely be solved, or diminished sooner or later. The damage that happens if we react poorly to the problem may change how the rest of our life goes.

Sixth, to quit a bad habit it is wise to have a system that allows you to access the article you need when you need it. Consider writing dates and topics of articles in your quitting notebook. Consider printing out key articles so that you can access them constantly if needed.

As always, you have my permission to print out this article for your personal use.

Finally, when bad things happen, pray about the problem. Then, begin to follow the steps from Philippians 4 to react to the problem the way God wants you to react to it.

 

[Gordon 7]

Habitual sin puts up a wall between us and God. That wall blocks us from the Light, leaves us in darkness, and often leads to damage and depression. Consider praying:

“Father, forgive me for alienating our relationship. Help me to battle sin.”

Colossians 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.”

Ouch! Above reproach? Why would we want to try to achieve that?

If people would try battling sin for a couple of years, they would have such a decrease in destruction, and such an increase in joy, that they would never want to go back to their old life again.

For me, after quitting I have had years of joy. I never want to give that up again. But... Am I really like what verse 22 says? No, but I am trying, I am improving.

Second, habitual sin causes us to be alienated from God. Today consider writing down two things that you hate about being alienated from God.

My two were: I hated going to bed without the ability to pray. When I used to continue in sin for 2, or 3 days, I hated going to bed. I missed spending time with God in prayer when I went to bed.

I also hated the darkness. When I am right with God I feel His love and light on my life. When I used to go back to _______ I was back in darkness. I hate the darkness.

Third, people put up with a ton of bad things so that they can continue their habit. If someone forced people to write down the top 7 bad things that happen because of their habit and to do it every hour... A lot of people would suddenly be a lot more motivated to put in the work to quit. That short-term pleasure with the added destruction that habits cause, is just not worth it.

Finally, consider making a commitment to writing down the bad things about your habit every hour every day this week. The higher your number, the greater your commitment.

Maybe on Friday, I will change that to: Write down 3 bad things that happen, and 4 good things that you hope will happen once you quit. Either way, the Bible promises us that life is better after quitting. Believe that!

 

[Gordon 7]

Colossians 3 gives us many ideas about what to think about.

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Think about pleasing God. Think: “What would Jesus do.” Think about how people act who get to heaven. Think about “Who the Bible says will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.”

Second, in heaven I might have conversations with 3 types of people who quit. Type one: They have tons of time on their hands. They might say: “I had stacks of notes and printouts that I kept on my lap often while I fought my habit. Eventually, I started to think in a new way.

Type two: They worked 40 hours per week. They might say: I tried to have devotions before work. After work my priority was to surround myself with new things to do, to have quick access to quitting information, and access to new ways to form better habits.

Type three: They are busy all the time. They might say: I filled my phone with quitting information. Whenever I had a free second, I always first worked on quitting stuff. I learned how to squeeze key verses and prayers into my busy life.

Third, verse 5 says to put to death:

“Fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.”

Most of us struggle with some of these things. But, a Christian warrior tries to improve daily in the areas that they struggle in. A Christian warrior tries to go to war with these things so that today, or someday they can help others. Today or someday they can do God's will. Today, or someday they can live a great life.

A Christian warrior increases their awareness of what they are doing wrong. They acknowledge that God's ways are best. They acknowledge the destruction of sin and consistently plan how to fight it.

People who are trying to quit “God's way” try to quit doing these things. Try is the key word. I am not perfect, but, I am trying, I am moving forward. I am not afraid to study what the Bible says I should get out of my life. I am not afraid to study how purging bad things will make my life better.

Fourth, today consider picking one or two things the scripture is against. Consider writing your own prayer to fight back. Something like:

“Father, help me to fight covetousness, please fill me with Your love.”

“Father, I will fight these wrongful thoughts, help me to focus on helping others.”

Finally, Colossians 3 gives us about 10 new things to think about. This article gives 5-6 new things to think about.

If you make it a habit to think about some of these things... You will be smashing a rather large hole in that old habit.

 

[Gordon 7]

Is your habit starting to kill, or is it partially killing something? Is it causing negative emotions and causing stress? Is it harming you Spiritually? Is it forcing you to trade in any hope of joy for anxiety, anger, and depression?

Second, I need to up my standards of turning and running from sin. This week I noticed that my temptations have increased so I started to pray about it. Consider praying:

“Father, why are my temptations so high?”

This is a prayer God often answers. He wants us to quit blatant sin. He wants to assist us in this process. If you need to pray that pray 1000 times, pray it 1000 times.

Third, as I prayed I started to realize: Maybe I am clicking on too much borderline stuff on TV. Maybe I am thinking about too much borderline stuff.

Fourth, then I realized. God does not see these actions as borderline. He sees them as negatives that are hurting me and hurting my purpose.

Jude 1:4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand [d]marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into indecent behavior and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”

Ouch! Indecent behavior, that is other people not me... right?

Fifth, like I said, I need to up the standards of turning and running from sin. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to turn from sin, and help me to be kind.”

“Father, help me to run from sin, and help me to be content.”

Sixth, Colossians 3:8 says: “Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another.”

Consider memorizing this verse. If I am thinking about trying to do these things, I won't have time to think about _______.

Finally, never say: “I can't stop thinking about ______.” Instead, say:

“If I memorize the right things to think about. If I pray quitting prayers. If I quote quitting verses... I will start to think about things that God wants me to think about.

If I start to think right, I will start to act right.

In what ways do you need to up your standards?

 

[Gordon 7]

Many Christians live without Jesus' power in their lives. People who have daily Bible reading add a bit of power. People who remember what they study and start to do it add more power. People who study, memorize, and try to start quoting scripture add even more power. But, sin lowers the power. Habitual sin unplugs the power.

Proverbs 4:20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart.”

Do not let God's Words depart from your eyes. Consider looking at God's Word on your phone. Watch Christian YouTube stuff. Listen to Christian music.

Yesterday I said a person who is not overly busy should have a stack of Christian material, and quitting material on their lap constantly. Based on this passage, everyone should have a stack of Christian material on their TV, lap, phone, computer, and anywhere else you can put it.

Verse 22 says why: For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.”

Consider praying:

“Father, I commit to doing things Your way. Please fill me with Your power.”

Second, if you decide to pray this prayer a lot, remember to not cause a power outage by slipping back into sin. Consider praying:

“Father, please fill me with Your power. I commit to a war on sin.”

Finally, it is easy in theory to add God's power to your life. But, gaining the habit of actually doing it is a challenge. Today, will you accept that challenge?

Commitment is the first step toward success and joy. What will you do?

 

[Gordon 7]

38% of Christians do not believe in the Bibles description of a literal hell. Part of the problem is that people do not insist on “literal” translations of the Bible.

With a literal translation, the translators strive to translate word for word what the original Greek or Hebrew says. The literal translations include the New King James version, the KJV, the New American Standard, and the English Standard version.

Note: I am not Catholic, but I love Catholics, and I highly doubt that the Catholic church cuts out “any” of the harsh verses out of any of the Catholic recommended versions. I plan to read a Catholic Bible as a comparison, I suspect that it is highly accurate.

Note #2 If you want to blast Catholics, or Protestants, please do it elsewhere. This site is about quitting.

Next, the Jehovah's Witnesses use a version that cuts out any literal description of hell. That is bad because they need that description (We all do).

Second, I don't want you to believe exactly the way I believe. I want you to read the Bible passages that will show you how to quit. Verses on hell are very inspirational for quitting. Consider searching, “Verses hell.” Scroll down to the Ed Taylor list. Reading over some of these verses straighten me up. That is a good thing.

If you want to see the really descriptive, harsh verses click here.

But... Isn't Christianity all about love? Yes!!!! We are supposed to be shining lights in a dark world. We are supposed to be helping others, and doing God's will. We are not supposed to be ruining our lives with sin.

Third, why does the Bible give these vivid descriptions of hell? Because, loving others, and helping others is not optional. Going to war with sin so that the Holy Spirit can help others through us is not optional. God insists that we do things His way.

Fourth, a study of these verses will increase our fear of God. That is good. It is way easier to pray quitting prayers, and to run to scripture (when tempted) when we have a proper fear of the Lord. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to think of things above, and help me to be content.”

Fifth, always be thinking of ways to remind yourself to pray quitting prayers. Consider notes in your house, in your phone, add reminders in every way you can. Consider searching: “Adding reminders to get things done.”

Sixth, if you are a mess, be passionate about God like David was. David screwed up, then he had more passion for God than anyone. God loved that. David got back to the commandments, got back to the Bible, and he got back to praying. His life became good again once he got back on track with God again. He was willing to put in the work to change.

Finally, consider writing down 2-3 things that you need to change to stay/get on track.

 

[Gordon 7]

Lust virtually always leads back to the main habit because sin leads to sin. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to turn from lust.”

It is wise to pray this often. It is even wiser to pray this constantly when in tempting situations like watching TV, searching on computers, phones, and many other situations.

Satan tells us that our main habit is more fun than doing things God's way. Satan tells us that lust is more fun than doing things God's way. Consider praying:

“Father, satan is lying to me again. Help me to see through his lies.”

Every sin always leads to destruction. Something starts to die or partially dies with every sin. Why do I keep repeating the underlined sentence every 5-10 days? Because, I struggle to remember that fact, then I am off chasing pleasures, money, and a dozen other things.

Second, doing things God's way is helping me increase in joy and purpose. When I am on track, that is when I am really alive, and vibrant. God's way is always better and correct. When will I fully learn that?

1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”

When we look with lust, or slip back into the main habit we may be ruining our day, week, and partially ruining, or ruining our month. Consider memorizing the underlined sentence. Consider changing the may be to “We will be” if that is your experience.

Third, my experience is that uncleaness leads to ruin for a minimum of a few days. It leads to a distance from God, to the darkness that I hate, to frustration, to anger, to fear. I could go on and on.

Fourth, consider writing out your top 5 negatives that happen with sin, and with falling.

Fifth, when under temptation say these negatives. Pray these negatives. Consider writing these negatives down repeatedly.

Sixth, when under severe temptation search “Verses _______,” fill in the blank with your main habit. Consider studying, and praying over these verses.

Seventh, if you start to make a habit of doing these things, satan will start to take time off from harassing you. He has been battering you for years. Now is the time to batter him.

Finally, the verse says that God has called us to holiness. When we believe him, we can start to find a bit of joy.

 

[Gordon 7]

Prayer without ceasing is recurring, it keeps happening, it is regular, it is a commitment, most importantly, it is a priority.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

It is wise to make praying without ceasing intentional. Several times daily, consider pausing all electronics and spending two minutes praying about what is important. Praying about what you need to change.

But praying without ceasing (pwc) will likely never happen if you are not spending a block of time daily in prayer. So... a block of daily prayer is the first step toward pwc.

Second, to pwc simply work on the habit of inviting God to be part of what you are doing right now. Consider praying:

“Father, I want You to be involved in what I am doing right now.”

“Father, What do You want me to do right now.”

PWC is a heart to pray:

Any way

Anywhere

Any time

Pray while standing in line, while driving (If that is safe for you), when you can't sleep, while you are watching TV. Consider writing down 3 new places/times where you could pray.

Pray about what you want to become. Consider praying:

“Father, help me fight these temptations, and show me Your will.”

“Father, help me to fight sin, please fill me with Your love.”

“Jesus, be near me.”

“Lord, help me.”

“Father, I want to become _______________________.”

Example: One worker hates his job. Praying “Lord help me” gets Jesus involved. Another worker loves his job, and is overcoming his habits. Praying “Lord help me” often gets Jesus involved so that he/she can start to fulfill their purpose.

Third, you can always work on the habit of replacing temptations with prayers. To do that set an alarm for every 30 minutes. Have several quitting prayers printed out, or on your phone. When the alarm sounds, pray two prayers, and think, “My goal is to pray a few more between alarms this time.”

Fourth, pwc increases our strength to fight satan.

It decreases anxiety. It increases peace. It helps you to start to attain the promises of God.

I have heard several people say: “I have a friend in Jesus.” Well... if you pray without ceasing, you will.

Praying without ceasing should be our way of life. What steps will you take to make that happen?

 

[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.

Ninth, consider praying as often as you can:

"Father, help me to turn from lust. I will learn that habit."

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]

Many people have tried 10 things from this site. But then, they slip on a banana peel, and down they go. Some have tried 20 things... ditto. A few have tried even more, and still, slip-sliding away they go.

But when you are sincere in your efforts, you are learning a lot. You are missing something, but your efforts are not wasted. You need a bunch of new habits if you are going to quit for good. You tried a bunch of things, and when you keep reading over and over again, that these habits are what you need, keep trying them.

Sometimes how you think when you are starting to slip is a huge problem. Life stinks and you are tempted to throw in the towel. You say – “I just don't care anymore.” But that is exactly what satan is telling you to say. So don't say that. Say the truth. “Falling would ruin my week and probably my month. It will take away my light and replace it with the darkness that I hate. It will add destruction.”

Near the end of my addiction, I started speaking the truth exactly like that. So instead of being defiantly decisive, I was saying the truth. And I am not a prophet, but when I did slip up the results were almost always what I said they were going to be.

Speaking the truth is climbing the mountain. Rapid repentance is climbing the mountain. A commitment to changing your thinking through reading the scripture is climbing the mountain.

Lastly, if you keep falling you are missing something. But if you are sincere you can pray with complete faith:

“Father, give me the wisdom I need to fight this addiction.”

“Father, show me how to change.”

Then, climb some more, change some more. Start to think in a new way. You will make it to the top.

 

[Gordon 7]

Many people mine for gold. Only a few find it. We can learn a lot from those few.

Expert miners keep digging. They develop expertise for finding gold. They develop great skill in knowing what is working, even though they have not quite hit the motherload yet.

Our digging is working daily on new habits. Today's habit is to think often about planning what you will do when triggers ramp up. Consider praying constantly:

“Father, I will _______ when triggers and temptations get strong.”

Try to fill in the blank with 3-5 things that you will do. Things like turning, replacing tempting thoughts with new thoughts, fleeing, healthy activities, or calling a friend.

If you have a severe habit, quitting involves a drying out period. These replacements for your temptation are your “work.” Always think of them as work. If you put in the work, you are making progress toward quitting. Next, think of these replacements as your gift to God. He is pleased that you are working to do things His way. The Bible says to give a “Sacrifice of praise.” Any healthy thing you put in that blank is your sacrifice to God. Just like the expert gold miner who found nothing all day. He knows he is making progress because he is digging in the right place.

If you always try to develop the habit of constantly praying/thinking/planning about what you will do in tough situations, you are starting to develop a skill that will give you power over your habit.

Second, someone reading this is hopelessly mired in their habit. But what if they pray this prayer 1000 times this week? What if they think about their replacements constantly? What if they make doing this a long-term habit? What if they combine this habit with a war on sin?

There is a song called Freedom. If you put in the work/prayer, that is what you will find.

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

 

[Gordon 7]

Pick 7 prayers that you can focus on this week. Consider printing them out or writing them down and carrying them around with you. Consider:

"Father, Purify my mind, my soul, and my spirit. Create in me a clean heart."

"Father, remove my ungodly thoughts. Help me to remember to focus on new thoughts." Note: consider having a list of "new thoughts" you will focus us on (based on ideas from this site) as well.

"Father, today I will obey. Today I want to see what life is like if I don't eat the apple (like Adam and Eve did).”

"Father, help me to turn aggressively from lust."

I added a prayer based on an article from Christian tt:

"Father, I will resist. I will overcome with the strength and power of the Holy Spirit."

“Father, help me to praise You today so that I stay in the light.”

“Father, please keep me from this yoke of slavery.”


Prayers are not answered based on praying them often. We can pray them often, but every repetition should be prayed with repentance, total sincerity, and a complete desire to change.

Prayer starts to renew our minds. With our new thinking, we can win.

 

[Gordon 7]

1 Timothy says that those who live for pleasure, are “dead.”

So... I can't play tennis? I can't watch TV?

Matthew 7 says that we must do God's will. It is wise to memorize the key verses in Matthew 7 which tell us who goes to heaven.

When we are too busy with pleasures, we forget to do God's will. We don't have time to do God's will.

Second, instead of selling your tennis racket, decide to pray more, and more about “Doing God's will.” Instead of throwing away your TV, decide to watch YouTube programs on topics like: “Quitting sin habits.” “How to quit habits.”

Third, we do need to focus more on what God wants and less on pleasures. Consider praying:

“Father, take away my love of pleasure, and show me Your will.”

Fourth, we do need to watch less TV, computer, phone, games, and electronics. But, we need to go to war with these things so that we can start to help others, or start to pray about someday soon doing God's will.

Fifth, we do need to annihilate habits that are killing us. Today, consider picking two verses about your habit. Search Google, “Verses ______,” fill in the blank with your issue. Then put these verses on your phone, by your computer, in notes in various places. Make seeing these verses the most likely thing in the world.

Sixth, fight temptation with these verses. When you have a tempting thought, read one of the verses. When life is getting bad, read one of the verses. When you want to give up, read one of the verses.

WWJD

How did Jesus react to temptation? 100% of the time he quoted a relevant scripture to fight it.

Seventh, Jesus taught praying to prepare for temptation. It is impossible to pray this prayer too much:

“Father, lead me not into temptation.”

Finally, you can annihilate your habit if you learn new habits. What habits will you work on today, and this week?

 

[Gordon 7]

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

They don’t tell us at church that a great cloud of witnesses are watching us. If they did maybe we would think more about the race than we do about lust.

Over the last two weeks, I have been working to set aside a weight in my life so that I would be able to run the race better. Like most of you, I was worried that if I cut some silly pleasure out of my life, I would not be happy.

Finally, I cut it out, and I still did not know exactly what the “race” was for me. I kept thinking and praying about it. Then yesterday it all clicked. I discovered what I was supposed to do. It was not exactly what I thought. But doing it made me happy.

Matthew Henry wrote: “By the sin that does so easily beset us, understand that sin to which we are most prone, or to which we are most exposed, from habit, age, or circumstances. This is a most important exhortation; for while a man's darling sin, be it what it will, remains unsubdued, it will hinder him from running the Christian race, as it takes from him every motive for running, and gives power to every discouragement. When weary and faint in their minds, let them recollect that the holy Jesus suffered, to save them from eternal misery. By stedfastly looking to Jesus, their thoughts would strengthen holy affections, and keep under their carnal desires. Let us then frequently consider him. What are our little trials to his agonies, or even to our deserts? What are they to the sufferings of many others?”

Today, consider setting an alarm on your phone to remind you to think about the race at least once per hour. Consider praying:

“Father, take away this spirit of lust and show me what the race is all about.”

Watch sermons from pastors who understand that the “race” involves all of us. Become obsessed with laying aside every weight, and sin.

Finally, consider striving to form a habit of thinking about the “race.” A second habit of thinking about praying to Jesus for guidance and help.

I have added this verse to the verses I meditate on. This is the third thing that helps me think in new ways.

Clean thoughts steer us towards a clean life. Think about new things.

 

[Gordon 7]

Psalm 16 says “At thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” One meaning of this is that when we consistently do things Gods way we start to be in His favor (blessings).

Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Consider praying:

“Father, help me to hunger and thirst for righteousness.”

God wants us to avoid satan's pleasures and have His pleasures. Consider memorizing this verse and connecting it to righteous pleasures.

Psalm 84:11 ESV
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Proverbs 10:22 ESV
The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

Isaiah 40:31 ESV
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Pray, pray, and then pray some more, and this verse will start to come true for you.

Second, church leaders hesitate to talk about God's blessing because we often receive it about 60 days after we give up trying for it. It always starts to happen for those who never give up, but it is often elusive for those who are running a test to see what God will do.

Third, His blessing is often greater than what we think. But... it is often different than what we ask for.

Finally, study, meditate, and pray over Matthew 5 for more information on how “At thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”

Search for God's pleasures, it is great for breaking habits.

 

[Gordon 7]

If I look with lust or if I stare at something that is borderline, my fun goes up a bit (for a short time) and my joy is ruined for a long time.
Looking at the wrong things strengthens our habit of overestimating short-term fun. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to run from lust, and help me to stop overestimating wrongful short-term fun.”

It would be hard to pray this prayer too much. I need to pray it a bunch, and I need to stop overestimating pleasures which get me in trouble.

Second, we always underestimate the destruction that lust causes. To break that habit pray for 5 minutes per day over the verse that says: “The wages of sin is death.” For 5 minutes daily, ask God what that verse means. God is not keeping any aspect of that verse a secret. He will show you exactly what it means if you keep praying about it.

Third, when we have a regular focus on the verses for quitting, we naturally know what God wants, and we learn the destruction of overestimating the wrong things.

Fourth, fill your mind with good things. Purelifeministries.org noted the following:

“Romans 12:2b goes on to say “…but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Be transformed? What does it mean to have to have a renewed and transformed mind?

A transformed mind is one that draws its thoughts and motives from an increasingly vibrant relationship with God. Any time you “put off the old,” you must also “put on the new” (Ephesians 4:22, 24). Hollow and deceptive fantasies need to be replaced by something more wonderful. If you do, the Scriptures promise that you will “be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” (Ephesians 4:23)

A new and transformed mind is filled with thoughts of Jesus and His love as it was revealed on the Cross. A transformed mind meditates day and night on the life and power available through His Word. A transformed mind causes the flow of your life to be reversed, so that instead of everything flowing toward you—your wants being preeminent and your desires being catered to—things are flowing toward others. You must come to a place where you are truly putting others ahead of yourself. In the same way you once gave over to lust, you must be given over to meeting the needs of others.

God wants to renew and transform our minds. He wants to transform our ugly, self-centered, lust-filled minds and give each one of us a “beautiful mind,” one that truly pleases and glorifies Him.”

Finally, focus first on fighting back the bad, then replace it with something great. That is how we gain momentum.