THE BEST SPIRITUAL WAY TO FIGHT TEMPTATION

[Gordon 7]

1 Timothy 2 “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

Consider determining to flee from people who bring temptation to you. Flee from TV shows/movies/computer/and phone images that cause temptation. Hit forward fast, hide your eyes and consider praying:

“Father, keep me from temptation, I will pursue righteousness.”

I have written often to search “Verses _______.” Fill in the blank with your habit.

When Jesus' was tempted, He always quoted a verse. The question is... if you want to quit fast, do you have to quote a verse? Sort of.

You need to have one relevant verse at least partially memorized so that you can quote at least part of it. Or, you need to have the verse in your phone, or on a note where you can access it rapidly so that you can quote it.

Even if you are in a field without your phone... Do you think that God cares if you quote the verse and mess up four words? No! He cares that you are willing to fight temptation the exact same way that Jesus' fought temptation.

Second, Isaiah 59:2 ESVBut your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”​

If you want your prayers heard, fight temptation Jesus way.

Finally, why do it this way?

1 Peter 5:8 ESV Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”​

How will you fight temptation?

 

[Gordon 7]

1 Timothy 2 “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

Consider determining to flee from people who bring temptation to you. Flee from TV shows/movies/computer/and phone images that cause temptation. Hit forward fast, hide your eyes and consider praying:

“Father, keep me from temptation, I will pursue righteousness.”

I have written often to search “Verses _______.” Fill in the blank with your habit.

When Jesus' was tempted, He always quoted a verse. The question is... if you want to quit fast, do you have to quote a verse? Sort of.

You need to have one relevant verse at least partially memorized so that you can quote at least part of it. Or, you need to have the verse in your phone, or on a note where you can access it rapidly so that you can quote it.

Even if you are in a field without your phone... Do you think that God cares if you quote the verse and mess up four words? No! He cares that you are willing to fight temptation the exact same way that Jesus' fought temptation.

Second, Isaiah 59:2 ESVBut your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”​

If you want your prayers heard, fight temptation Jesus way.

Finally, why do it this way?

1 Peter 5:8 ESV Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”​

How will you fight temptation?

 

[Gordon 7]

I have a new column out for married people. Or, if you are single and want twice as many articles, you are welcome as well. It's r/NoXXXMarriedChristian You have to join Reddit to get it.
But, please remain faithful to this site. It is a great site.

 

[Gordon 7]

Jesus said in Matthew 7 regarding going to heaven, “Only those who do the will of the Father.”

Quitting is 51% what we do, and 49% what we stop doing. If we are 100% doing God's will all the time, our habit that is ruining us will be 100% gone.

Second, you doing God's will is simply doing what God created you to do. It might be finding a need you can fill. It could be helping the poor and hungry, or, showing love or kindness to others, or, listening and praying for others. It could be financial help, or living a life that glorifies God. Being an example in your work, or your love for others, your love of Christians, and love of family.

Titus 3 says that Christians should “Devote themselves to good works.”

The Problem

We have habits of thinking wrong, and habits of doing wrong.

Today I want you to set a goal of increasing your joy. Not fun... joy. Not an overpriced concert, or a new car, or sporting event which will be fun and thrilling for a short period of time. No! I am talking about the real joy that starts to grow when we start to do things God's way.

Consider praying:

“Father, help me to be devoted to doing good works.”

Good works help people. You see a need, and you fill it.

Matthew 25 “Well done, good and faithful servant; for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

Third, I truly believe that some day someone will come up to me in heaven and say: I was completely addicted to ______, but I started praying that prayer. I prayed it thousands of times, I got into scripture, I spent time in prayer. There was zero hope for me, but, as I “tried” I began to care. As I began to care, I wanted to change. When I cared for others it was like Jesus was caring for me. Caring about helping me fight this habit. It took some time, it took a lot of work, but, once I started to care about others I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. I could see a bit of joy rising up in my life. I liked that. I wanted more of that. Eventually, I realized that my habit was killing my new joy, but my caring for others was feeding my new joy. That is when I really went to war with that habit.

Fast-forward 6 months... Habit in the rear-view mirror, purpose in the front window, joy is rising rapidly. End of story.

The Challenge

What system will you use to “remember” to “do” the goals that you now have? Some people use quitting software like Quitzilla, or Unchaind. Others use paper notes and sticky notes. I like to write in a notebook hundreds of times, the skill or a portion of the prayer I want to learn: “Help me to do good works.” Others put a rubber band on their wrist to remind them to pray every time they look at it.

You might want to start a pocket “Quitting notebook” that you make a habit to look at every 15 minutes with a phone alarm.

Finally, it is wise to obsess over great systems which will help you quit. It is wise to obsess over

praying about and starting to do good works.

The more we do what we should be doing, the easier it is to quit.

 

[Gordon 7]

Ephesians 6:10 ESV Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”​

A person who says a quitting prayer constantly and consistently is working to be strong in the Lord. A person who fully repents of all sin is being strong in the Lord. Consider praying:

“Father, forgive me for these wrong thoughts, and actions. I plan to try to be strong in You.”

Second, consider writing down and memorizing three pure, healthy thoughts. Things like: Loving others, helping others, and increasing in purity (Which gives us a chance to start to have joy).

Third, pray constantly to replace tempting thoughts with these thoughts.

“Father, help me to fight thoughts of _________, and help me to help others.”

Fourth, daily Bible reading leads to being strong in the Lord. Consider buying a Bible that is set up to “Read through the Bible in one year.” I highly recommend that, if you insist on quitting your long-term habit.

Fifth, a block of time in prayer helps us be strong in the Lord. Quitting God's way means praying that we will consistently submit to God's will. As we pray and change, Jesus starts to get involved in the quitting process. Jesus is very powerful. When we combat our sin in prayer, Jesus increases in us.

Finally, when temptation is overwhelming, search “Verses _______.” Fill in the blank with the sin or habit that is ruining you. Then pick one verse and pray over it for as long as it takes to fight off that temptation. This technique increases the strength of the Lord in us faster than anything else.

Today consider making it a priority to work on habits that will make you strong in the Lord. How will you do that?

 

[Gordon 7]

Proverbs 27:20 Hell[a] and [b]Destruction are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied.”

This verse does not mean we can't be satisfied by looking at a beautiful mountain, or a great lake. It means the eyes can never be satisfied by looking at sin.

Bad habits never satisfy. Consider praying:

“Lord, help me fight temptation. I will do things that satisfy.”

Second, if we are not fighting habits full force, satan will pepper us with temptation. When tempted, we can fight with full force if we whip out a verse to quote/think about/pray about.

Hebrews 2:18 ESV For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”​

Jesus knew the exact right verse to quote/think about/and pray about when tempted. The more we work to “know” the exact right verse, the more He will help us when tempted.

Third, fight off temptation with force, then immediately start doing something that satisfies. In the last 7 days, I have given dozens of ideas of things “To do.” These Spiritual things do satisfy when we do them. Sometimes we need to repent, and recommit before we start doing them, but, when we are right with God, doing those things do satisfy.

Finally, fight with force and do things that satisfy. It will start you down the road toward joy.

 

[Gordon 7]

Proverbs 5:22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin. 23 He shall die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.”

Sin always traps us. Consider memorizing the above verses. I watched a YouTube about quitting this morning and someone said: “Memorizing scripture helped me break bad habits but it does not work for everyone.” I say: “If you memorize the right scripture, it works for everyone in helping quitting.”

Second, how quickly we forget the “trap” that going down the wrong road causes. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to replace these tempting thoughts with saying: This is a trap, I will do things God's way.” Then refer to your list of clean activities.

Third, if we forget to pray about, or fulfill purpose, we will have our hands tied in the cords of sin. When tempted consider praying:

“Father, lead me not into temptation, I want to do Your will. I want to be free from the cords of sin.”

Finally, consider keeping your quitting notebook in your lap. Keeping your phone filled with tips and prayers, and keeping your mouth constantly moving with quitting prayers. That way, you won't die/have destruction because of “Lack of instruction.”

 

[Gordon 7]

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection.”

Satan will fight tooth and nail against any talk of “perfection.”

Second, why does the Bible tell us “Be ye perfect?”

Background: Michael Jordan wanted to be the best player in the NBA. He worked hard, he increased in discipline, he increased in strength, he increased the accuracy of his jump shot, he increased his ability to pass. He tried to be perfect in every way. He was a failure in being perfect, but his effort to try to be perfect made him the greatest ever. Plus, he had more fun doing it that way. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to replace wrong thoughts. I believe that trying to be perfect is what is best for me.”

Pick a prayer, and fight to replace wrong thoughts with:

“Father, help me to love others.”

“Father, help me to be content.”

Third, people say other Christian things are priorities before a war on sin. If they believe that they have not memorized Hebrew 6:4-6. It is such a harsh passage I am afraid to put it in this article.

Fourth, love is a priority, but love becomes tainted if we continue in sin. We must make love a priority, but to do so we must smash sin habits right now!

Fifth, before I studied those harsh verses in Hebrews I had zero joy. I had stuff, money, relationships, success, everything really, but, I had zero joy. I was doing things my way with a bit of religion thrown in.

Sixth, the Bible often refers to being perfect as “His righteousness.” I can’t be perfect, but I can be willing to let Jesus take my life over. I can be willing to pray about, and try to do God’s will. When I have a perfect “effort” in trying to do things God’s way, He helps me “perfectly.”

Seventh, Jordan committed to being perfect, failed, and won 6 championships. I have decided to obey the Bible to try to be perfect, I will “try” to do what the Bible says to do. God “always” wants us to keep trying.

Finally, God wants us to increase in joy. Consider memorizing more prayers. Consider doing what He says to do, and see what happens.

 

[Gordon 7]

SRR

Temptation hits hard either morning noon or night. When that happens we should practice SRR. SRR is Scripture, Repent, and Replace.

Scripture: Search “verses _______.” Fill in the blank with the temptation. Then read these verses and pray over them until temptation stops.

Repent: If we don't repent of all sin, and start to have a plan to stop it... Temptation will keep happening. Sin leads to sin.

Replace: Stop doing activities that lead directly to temptation. Have a list of cleaner activities. These new activities are not for fun. They are our work. They will not be fun until we “dry out” from the negative effects of the habit.

Second, change activities that tend to lead to temptation. Example, risky TV shows lead to lust. Lust lowers our ability to fight _______. Replace risky shows with something clean.

Write down three activities that make your temptation higher.

1. ______________

2. ______________

3. ______________

Write down new activities to replace these risky activities.

1. ______________

2. ______________

3. ______________

Finally, practice SRR with the amount of time you have. If you are out and about, practicing it for 2 minutes might be perfect (Have specific verses in your phone).

If you are home where temptation might last for hours, spend some time with this technique. You might even have to go back to it several times. But, if you want a great life, go back to it as often as needed.

SRR crushes temptation. SRR puts you directly on a path toward a great life.

 

[Gordon 7]

Wrestling with P is like wrestling against a love of food. With food, if we wait to make a decision on whether we want cake to when it is sitting right in front of us... the battle will be really hard (or just lost). Instead, if we tell our personal chef (Okay, maybe that part is made up) that we don't want any cake around, that we plan to lose weight right now, and that we want healthy choices. We have at least temporarily stacked the odds in our favor.

It is the same when we turn on the TV or when we are out where there are things that we should not look at. I recommend making 2 things that we struggle with into “daily habits.” I decided to work on always making clean TV choices as my first one, and being ready to turn aggressively from lust as my second one. Now I am “daily” working on these two things before temptation hits.

Now I am starting to become obsessed with clean TV choices. That is some statement coming from the person who was the worst porn addict on this site two years ago.

Second, turning from lust is always a habit that is good to improve on.

Third, to fight against food we need to plan morning, noon, and night. Consistent planning day in and day out. Some of these supermodels have near zero discipline, but they have an iron-clad plan to make millions of dollars, which leads to an iron-clad plan to eat exactly the number of calories that will allow them to make that money.

Forth, plan how you will fight back, plan which articles you need most, plan what you will do instead of things that lead to temptation, plan how you will go to war with bad thoughts, and plan what you will think about instead.

We will always struggle to be perfect, but we need not struggle to have a perfect plan.

 

[Gordon 7]

Adding habits is vital. The first habit is belief. It is wise to believe that if you add new positive habits, that you “will quit.” The fact is... many add a habit or two for a while, and then decide: “This is not working. I better search for some other miracle cure.”

Fact: Any good habit you add is working. But, it is unknown how many habits you need to add to quit. Often, you need to have improved on 10 or 12 positive new habits to quit. Therefore, if you give up on the first few that you are working on, you will stay in a mad cycle forever.

Instead, pick 2-3 habits, and keep working on them daily even if you fall. Over time keep adding habits. Over time, it will work.

Second, consider adding the habit of praising the Lord.

Psalm 150:6 “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.”

Praise the Lord when good things happen, praise the Lord when bad things happen. Consider making it a goal to praise the Lord 77 times daily.

Third, consider praying:

“Father, remind me often to work on my new habits.”

Fourth, memorize this fact: “Progress lags work.” Many think, “I am doing all this work, I am not making progress.” But you made progress on every day that you worked on new habits. If you continue to believe in those habits they will start to pay off eventually.

Fifth, it does not help to write a Reddit saying: Help me. Instead say: I am now reading my Bible daily, I pray for 10 minutes daily, and I still keep falling. Help me.

With that information, a person can write back: Are you hanging around people who make temptation skyrocket? Are you watching TV/Computer/Phone stuff that makes temptation skyrocket? What are you doing when temptation skyrockets?

With that information they may be able to tell you what habit to work on.

Finally, the Praise the Lord habit brings a bit of light into our lives. I plan on doing it more often.

Good habits always make our lives better. Believe the process, and work on positive habits every chance you get.

 

[Gordon 7]

Repenting is asking God to forgive us, and making a plan to change. When you are fighting a huge habit, repenting is needed often. But most people wait way too long to repent.

Rapid Repentance

Rapid repentance means repenting the second you cross the line.

Example: A gambler daydreams about gambling. Right now is the time to repent, not after you lose another $1500.

If you make a habit of repenting rapidly, then thinking about love, and purpose, you will make rapid progress.

Top Level Repenting

You work constantly on running from temptation without even considering it. At this level, if you pause to think about anything related to “What it would be like,” you instantly realize... It is time to repent.

Second, realize how careful people who do quit, are, in regards to temptation. I have seen problem drinkers who get visibly upset if “anyone” acts like they should have one drink ever. I have seen sex addicts who turn-from-lust so rapidly that you would think Jesus Himself was in the room. Oh, that's right, He is. I have seen gamblers ban themselves from every casino in the state.

Third, people who “do quit” have a go to prayer for when temptation starts. They don't wait around for temptation to grow, they go to war instantly.

Fourth, yes we are human. Even people who quit do start down the wrong track occasionally, but when we do, we repent wholeheartedly, and remorsefully before God.

Fifth, have two things to pray about when temptation strikes. Harvest Prayer gave this prayer:

“Lord, I am facing temptation today. Your Word says that if I will wait for You, You will renew my strength so that I can face the challenge and win the battle.”

Other Prayers

“Father, keep me from temptation, and fill me with Your love.”

“Father, I will fight temptation, please show me what You want me to think about, and what You want me to do.”

“Help me fight Lord, I believe that Your ways are best.”

Finally, practice rapid repentance, practice running instantly from temptation, and practice instant warfare with prayer (Or scripture if overwhelmed).

Practice rapid repentance. It will put the Light on in your life.

 

[Gordon 7]

Hebrews 12:14-15 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”

One of satan's top ten tricks is to encourage us to be discontent. We can't pray too often to be content. Consider praying:

“Father, keep me from temptation, and help me to be content.”

Another of his tricks is to stir up fighting with families, friends, coworkers, and everyone else he can ruin. Fighting leads to bitterness. Bitterness leads to... Well, read verse 15 again.

Strive to be the peacemaker. They are completely wrong. Instead of continuing the fight, consider asking God how you can be the peacemaker.

Second, one of satan's top 5 tricks is to get us to consider tempting thoughts.

Instead, practice instantly turning away. Instantly from thoughts, from looking at tempting things, from fantasies, and from anything else that starts you down that slippery slope. Consider praying:

“Father, I will instantly turn away. I know that Your way is best.”

I am determined to “up” the standards in turning away.

Consider memorizing verse 14 (above). Decide how often you will commit to praying these prayers.

Finally, practice instantly turning away, practice replacing temptation with prayer, and watch the power of God start to rise up in your life.

 

[Gordon 7]

Yesterday I messed up a bit. I felt tired and discouraged, so I immediately went back to one of my secondary (more mild) habits.

Today, I realize, I should have turned to quitting information at that moment so I would be reminded that I have options. I could have:

Praised the Lord

Prayed about contentment

Prayed about increasing in love

Prayed about purpose

Prayed about caring about souls

Prayed about working on the habit of replacing wrong thoughts with quitting prayers

If I had the “habit” of going to a quitting site when life got me down, I could have been reminded to do one, or several of these things. I could have taken a step toward joy. Instead... well, I ended up depressed and stressed out.

Today, consider making a commitment to going to a quitting site when life gets you down.

Consider working on making it a habit to go to a quitting site to find something good to work on. Something good to distract you. Even if you only spend 2 minutes there, you may be reminded to:

Praise the Lord, or to pray some quitting prayers that really help you (When you remember to pray them).

Finally, if work on the habit of going to a quitting site when life gets you down, you can start climbing back up, even if your day doesn't help you.

 

[Gordon 7]

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”

It is wise to learn something that will help us help others because of our trials. All of us have people around us who struggle with habits and sin. It's not our job to push onto them what we are learning about fighting temptation. It is our job to be available to people who have an interest in changing.

When trials and temptations hit, “count it all joy” if those trials allow you to grow so that you can do God's will (or prepare to do it) by helping others.

Verse 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [a]patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

We fight habits patiently, and consistently. We are working toward the goal of being “Perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

When we fight habits and work toward purpose, we begin to make this verse come true.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” Consider praying:

“Father, give me wisdom about how to fight this habit. I am willing to do Your will.”

Only a few of you would be shocked to learn that I constantly pray for wisdom on how to write these articles. I fully believe that God will answer these prayers. Why? Because I fully believe that writing these articles are in “God's will.”

Second, I guarantee you that fighting habits is fully in God's will. Therefore you can, and should ask in complete faith for wisdom about the best ways to quit. If you ask with complete faith, He “will” begin to answer that prayer.

21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and [d]overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

If we want to be “Perfect and complete, lacking nothing,” we need fight filthiness, and wickedness.

Finally, what is the implanted Word? The implanted Word are memory verses. What if one quotes Psalm 51:10 one thousand times?

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right spirit within me.”

Doing that implants the Word of God in you! How can you not add a bit of power to your life if you do that?

Today I have written this verse down because I plan to implant it into my life.

I really like this plan.

 

[Gordon 7]

Today, I am starting with a great note from Economy-Newpaper463. Then the second half is ideas about what to do.

He wrote:

“The other day, it hit me like a revelation. A truth burned into my heart:

There is no peace for those who sin against God. No joy for those who abandon Him.

It’s not just a thought — it’s a proverb. One that needs to be remembered. Written in fire. Etched into our souls.

You could fulfill every gratification. You could have all the money in the world. Fame, power, pleasure.

But if you live in sin… there will be no peace. Not in this life. Not in the next.

I realized it. I felt it. And now I’m crying out to God for mercy.

May He help me. May He help you. My brothers and sisters — let’s not run anymore. Let’s return to the One who gives true peace.

“There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.” — Isaiah 48:22”



Wow! Fantastic wisdom. He is 100% right. If you want peace, memorize the above verse.



Second, James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

I say that quitting is 51% what we do, and 49% what we stop doing, but based on this verse maybe quitting is 60% what we do and 40% what we stop doing.

If we have faith but are dead because we have no works, don't we “need” satan's pleasures?

It is super hard to quit if we are dead inside!

When we talk about striving to do God's will, some of His will is always works. When we talk about purpose, some of that is always works. Consider praying 1000 times:

“Father, show me Your will, I am willing to do the works that you put me on this planet to do.”

Third, commit to searching Google often about:

“God's will”

“What good works can we do”

“How to find my Christian purpose”



Fourth, if you do that, please... write a tiny article and give everybody a great link to a YouTube about works, or a great article about doing God's will.

Fifth, consider memorizing James 2:26. Put it in your phone, write it out, or print it out. It is 100% a top 5 quitting verse.

Finally, what habits will you work on today? How will you remind yourself to keep working on them longer-term.

Good works increase the Spirit in us. The more we do them, plus fighting sin, the more He helps us. The more He is in us, the more joy we have.

What ideas can you write down about good works that you could try to do?

 

[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:

"Father, help me to work constantly on the turn from lust 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]

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

To fight habits we submit to God and resist satan. Just like Adam and Eve, I want things my way. Consider memorizing this statement:

“My way keeps me from joy. God's way leads toward joy.”

We submit to God by constantly asking in prayer:

“Father, what do You want me to do?”

I think that my plans for pleasure, fun, and success are better than God's plans for me. Wait, now that I wrote that down it sounds really dumb doesn't it? But we all do it. That is why we need to “plan” to submit to God, think about submitting to God, and constantly pray about what He wants us “to do.”

To submit means: “I will do what God wants me to do.”

Second, I remind myself often that submitting to God's will always does me good. My way leads to trouble, His way leads to good and starts to lead toward blessings.

Third, we resist satan by quoting scripture:

John 8:34 ESV Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.”​

I need constant reminders that my bad habits make me a slave to sin. Consider praying:

“Father, I am willing to do Your will. Please show me Your will and help me to fight this sin which is slavery.”

Fourth, consider learning the habit of quoting scripture when tempted. When tempted, search: “Verses fighting sin.” If in 60 days your phone or computer auto-completes this search because you have done it 10,000 times, you will be shocked at how you have learned to effectively fight sin.

Doing this search is a nuclear attack on habits. Consider setting an alarm on your phone for every 30 minutes to remind you to make a habit of doing this search when tempted.

Finally, satan hates hearing scripture. If you want your temptations to go down dramatically, learn the habit of finding scriptures with this search. The second you start quoting scripture, he will “flee from you” and bother someone else.

 

[Gordon 7]

The Bible says to love others. To quit addictions, try that today (TTT). It says to forgive others, try that today (TTT). It says to bear fruit TTT, to obey TTT, to increase in the fruit of the Spirit TTT. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Wow, that is a lot of things to try today. Who can do all of those things today? Tomorrow maybe I should focus on one topic. But when I do that, it won't work either, and more will be needed to solve the problem. Does anyone have the secret answer to quitting?

Yep, someone does. Jesus Christ does. And the secret answer is... the fire. If you really understand fire you know that it will burn and burn until everything is burnt up, or until someone puts the fire out.

A person who has the fire will take this article with a million things to try, and they will try and try to do as many things that are humanly possible. Then tomorrow, when I focus on one topic, they will try that and then come back to today's article, or another article on this site, or find a book on quitting addiction, or find a YouTube article on quitting.

Key point: A person who has the fire will keep fighting until the sin is burnt up. A person who has the fire will keep fighting until the Word (the Bible) is in them, until the Word directs them, until the Word controls them.

Pray to have the fire. Pray, “Father, fill me with your fire.” Highlight this prayer and put it on your mirror. Why? We need to stoke (stir up) the fire every day.

If you only develop a few habits this month, your life will change for the better permanently. Today, memorize the key point paragraph. If you develop these habits your addiction will be gone.

Every day, satan will try to attack you. But on every day that you stoke the fire, it will be a fair battle, and one that you eventually will win. My daughter (The one I call the happiest person in Michigan) gets up early every day to pray and study the Bible. She always stokes the fire. And with the power that the fire gives her, she is always helping people.

Jesus is the light of the world because He is the fire. Strive to let that fire burn hotly, and permanently every day of your life.

 

[Gordon 7]

Satan wants us to fall instantly when bad things happen, when temptation happens, and when anything happens that causes falls.

God wants us to fight with all our might, and He wants us to do His will.

People who will quit “fight” instantly, and consistently. People who might quit fight instantly, and a bit less consistently.

Second, if you keep falling consider setting a time of how long you will fight at minimum. A critic might say: “If I set a minimum of 1 hour I am giving myself an excuse for falling after 1 hour.” No!!!! We should all set a minimum of quitting for life right now, but we can also set a smaller goal.

Third, what will you do in that hour? How urgently will you pray? Will you run to scripture? Will you review the destruction that the habit causes? Will you work on habits at quitting sites? Will you make a plan so that you can remember to work on habits more often?

Fourth, 100% of people who fall instantly when bad things (or whatever) happen will still have their habit in 10 years. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to learn the habit of fighting instantly when ______ happens.”

Fifth, Choose better alternative activities.

If we often choose the wrong alternate activities, we will fall. The weakest level of alternate activities are level 5 activities. Things like risky TV or movies, hanging with friends who lead you down the wrong path, moderate gambling, or moderate drinking. While these things are usually better than P you will have a much higher chance to quit your habit if you choose level 1 and level 2 activities. Level 1 activities include Bible study, prayer, reading Christian books, reading quitting addiction books, helping out at church, and telling a friend how Jesus is helping you. Also, try joining a church Bible study, sometimes they are great. These activities not only distract and help you through today, but they also strengthen you for tomorrow and all month.

Level 2 activities are things like exercising plus prayer, exercising outside of your home, team sports, group activities, hanging with friends who tend to help you instead of leading you down the wrong path.

Level 3 activities are learning a musical instrument, sports or non-computer games at home, hobbies at home.

This article is not meant to be a complete list of alternative activities. The point is, if you focus on level 1 and 2 activities, they help your future. The more you focus on higher-level activities, the better your chances are for freedom. Always push to improve your activity by a level or two. It is a secret to success.

Lastly, treat your activities list as your work. You are working towards having a future of freedom and joy. The pay is 10 times the pay you will get at any other job. The rewards are huge.

Today, consider writing down your minimum of how long you will fight when life gets tough.

Believe, work, succeed.