THE BEST SPIRITUAL WAY TO FIGHT TEMPTATION

Gordon 7

Well-Known Member
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

Well-Known Member
We should consider focusing on not leaving our minds vacant. Because just like in the story of Adam and Eve, satan will fill it up with his trash. What Christian trait will you focus on improving and thinking about today?

We should consider not allowing satan to help us pick our music, TV shows, or movies. Instead, we should consider praying about our entertainment choices. Then choosing entertainment which will allow us to have long-term joy which is found in a healthy relationship with Jesus Christ.

Is it wise to hang out with people who talk about smut constantly? Consider praying:
"Father, give me the strength to find friends who won't drag me down."

However, what if we are forced into an environment where we are surrounded, but we have to work or go to school there? In this situation, we can consider praising the Lord or increasing our focus on the Christian trait we want to improve on instead of listening to their trash.

The path to success or to slipping is either littered with trash or paved with gold. In both cases, our path is going to be lit on fire when temptation is in full force.

If our preparation is hit or miss, our path may be littered with trash, and we may continue to burn with severe temptation until we give up.

When we have prepared for this temptation with prayer and with new thoughts we have a chance. Then at the moment of severe temptation, we fight back in full strength with the verses for quitting. Now we are fighting on streets of gold with the ever-increasing help of the Holy Spirit.

There will be a fire. With full preparation, the result will pure gold instead of ashes.

For the full article https://forum.nofap.com/index.php?threads/if-you-are-new-here.324418/
 

Gordon 7

Well-Known Member
Jerry hates dogs. When he was young a dog attacked him and bit him 12 times. Now as an adult he lives on a spectacular lake. Bad dogs have been disappearing all around the lake. Everybody knows Jerry is doing it, but hey, these are bad dogs.

One fine day a dog gets loose and bites a young girl. Yep, within 5 hours the dog has met his maker. But one thing Jerry does not know. The dog is owned by Vito Corleone, the Godfather. But hey, Jerry is friends with Vito. They go back a long way.

That night Vito knocks on Jerry's door. Jerry my friend, how are you.”

“I am okay.”

“Jerry, there was an incident with my dog and I know you did it.”

Jerry, thinking rapidly, realizes that this would be a bad time to lie. “Yeah, I did not know it was your dog. What can I do to make it up to you.”

“Jerry, we have been friends a long time. I loved my dog, but I love you also. You are going to have to leave the lake.”

“I can't leave, I love it here.”

“Mmmmmm... Jerry, I forgive you for what you have done, but if you don't leave the lake there will be a stifling in 3 days.”

Jerry knew what that meant. In this family a stifling always included bullets. Jerry nodded in agreement, “Don't you worry, I am not going to do anything to harm you or any of your pets ever again.”

Vito smiled, hugged Jerry, and left.

One hour later Jerry's wife Julia arrived. “I heard what happened,” she said.

“Oh yeah, but that is not going to be a problem.”

“But I heard that we are going to have to leave.”

“Oh no, he forgave me. This is all cleared up.”

She packed her suitcase.

“You don't need to leave.”

She left. Jerry stayed. The end.


What is the meaning of the parable of the killer?

Sometimes Christians read hard verses. But all their life they have been taught to focus on something else. So... just like Jerry, they focus on something else other than the verses.

Quitting porn is something that really can happen for people who believe the hard verses and who also focus on them.

I wrote an article yesterday. Reacting as Jerry would react is one choice. We can ignore the hard verses and focus on something else.
Or... we can focus on allowing the hard scriptures to change us.
 

Gordon 7

Well-Known Member
We learn from Psalm 145 that David always praised the Lord (except when he was busy making a mess of things).

Psalm 145 A psalm of praise. Of David.

1I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.
5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

We learn that David always meditated on the Scripture (Works), (except when he was busy making a mess of things).

14 The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.

David had a complete plan about how he would change after his fall. David then bowed before the Lord, who lifted him up.

Bowing down may mean, God, You are always right, Your ways are always good.

Consider praying: “Father, I will follow Your ways. Please lift me up.”

16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

David trusted God no matter what. Then things started to turn around.

19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.


When we focus on God's ways, on prayer, and on exactly following His Word, our desires will start to be fulfilled.

For the full article https://forum.nofap.com/index.php?threads/davids-prayer.331108/
 

Gordon 7

Well-Known Member
“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me (Psalm 101:3).

If we watch the wrong movies/TV, the lust clings to us then and afterward. When we hate the work of the people who make these shows, “it shall not cleave to me.”

People get mad at me when I rip into female stars who openly promote lust. When I rip into the makers of popular shows that feature constant nudity. But the Bible says that when we hate their work, it doesn't cleave (stick) to us. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to hate the work of those who turn aside.”

I am at war with people who make trash and with the stars who get rich causing others to fall into lust. By doing that I am following the above verse.

Secondly, “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” (Job 31:1).

A covenant is a promise to God. He knows exactly what we look at. Are we dedicated enough to make a promise not to look? Biblicalcounselingcoalition noted the following: “Making a covenant is a definitive step, a line drawn in the sand. Making a covenant means saying to yourself—better yet, even writing down—the words of your specific pledge.

When a woman catches my attention—whether she is before my eyes or merely in my memory—I pledge to lead my thoughts elsewhere. I commit to this knowing Almighty God both sees my sin and hates my sin.”

Do not commit to this promise unless you are willing to fight lust tooth and nail.


Job was not perfect and we are not perfect. But Job was fully committed. If you are fully committed, make your pledge today.

For the original article (highly recommended) https://forum.nofap.com/index.php?threads/tv-movies.320889/
 

Gordon 7

Well-Known Member
Ralph, recently homeless, was walking in a park looking for more wood to build his hapless shelter. A man with a big smile walked up to him.

“Hi, I'm Charlie, do you have a minute to talk?”

“Sure.”

“I am on my way home right now, but I wanted to give you this tract,” he said, as he handed him a small folded piece of paper. “I will be back here Tuesday, so if you like what you read we can talk then.” Then he reached into his bag, “I have been passing out sandwiches, here is one for you.”

“Oh, thank you, I could eat a horse,” Ralph said.

After Charlie left, Ralph opened the tract. It read:

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”


The tract ended by saying, “Dedicate your life to Christ today, these verses are true.

Ralph thought, wow “wanting nothing.” I will try this. He prayed, “Father, I dedicate my life to you.”

An hour later he resumed his search for wood. Then he hit the jackpot. A beautiful tarp with no holes, to cover his new shelter. Wow, he thought. This Christianity is a good deal. Just as he had the tarp in place, a huge storm began.

The next morning he woke up early because his feet were soaked. The tarp had shifted. Angrily he threw the tract away. “I knew that this was too good to be true,” he said out loud.

The end.

Many churches will gloss over this “wanting nothing." Why? Because it is very hard to understand. The Bible is written with the assumption that Christians are fully dedicated to things like purity, purpose, being in God's will, and other things. When we are fully dedicated to these things, this verse will be fully true for us. Consider praying:

“Father, show me what I need to be more dedicated to.”

Because when we are partially dedicated this verse gets confusing. Most of us make it a lot longer than Ralph when the verse does not work out the way we want it to. But then, we start to lose faith just like he did.

But I say... instead, we should just believe the verses, keep being more and more dedicated, keep studying them, keep praying over them, and just see if the power of scripture helps us learn how to overcome yet again. Then see if the power of scripture starts teaching us to live in a way that leads to joy.
 

Gordon 7

Well-Known Member
In Psalm one, the Bible promises great blessings for those who meditate on God's law day and night. To start, we focus on God's Word and on His law in the morning and in the evening. But, how can we meditate on it during our busy times throughout the day?

Meditating is speaking, thinking, and musing. When we study the verses for quitting, (a great choice for memorization), we then think more often about what God wants in our lustful temptations. That meditation starts us towards obedience, which then starts us toward the path of blessing that this chapter talks about.

The best way to meditate day and night is to memorize scripture. We can include memorization of things like the great verses, or you can get involved in something like the fighter verse program or some other program for memorizing scripture.

Start by memorizing Psalms 1, verses 2-3

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Second, start to memorize verses to meditate on. But remind yourself of these above 2 verses every day so that you are inspired by their promises, so that you will continue to memorize.

Third, it does not matter how good you are at memorizing. Trying, persistence, and effort are way more important than a perfect memory. If you keep trying, you will be allowing God to renew your mind (as well as being blessed).

Here are some verses to consider memorizing.

Romans 10:17- So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 6:1-2- What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

Matthew 6:22-23 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

Psalm 119:37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.

Romans 6:23- For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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

Matthew 5:8 ESV “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 ESV
Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Psalm 101:3 ESV I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.

Isaiah 40:31- But those who wait on 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.

Matthew 5:16- "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 6:33-34- "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow.”

Mark 12:30-31- 'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. "And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

John 10:10 ESV /
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Romans 12:1-2
- I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
 

Gordon 7

Well-Known Member
Trying to live in a way to start the Psalms one blessing is a challenge. Yesterday I wrote two verses in a notebook to memorize. I looked at them about twice yesterday and I have yet to look at them today. So, I have passed the first hurdle of setting up a system of trying, and now I need to learn the habit of doing it.

Today, my goal is to review my first 2 verses every hour, on the hour. I also plan to add a third verse to my notebook today.

I recommend doing this because of Matthew 6:22-23 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

I memorized this verse one year ago. This verse taught me that I was always trading in my long-term joy for short-term pleasure. I was living sometimes in darkness (with destruction added), sometimes in light, with a whole lot of grey thrown in.

This verse has power. Saying this verse a few times per day had a profound effect on me. Try it, you will like it.

Today consider deciding how you will save your verses so that you can access them every hour. Then see how your life will change for the better.
 

Gordon 7

Well-Known Member
If your life is on a slippery slope that you are constantly sliding down, you would be wise to make the connection to what you need to do to stop those actions.

I wanted to increase the blessing in my life, so I have started to meditate on scripture consistently by memorizing verses and focusing on them. I have connected this meditation on God's Word (based on Psalm 1) with increasing that blessing.

Many will say – that's not for me. But, they may not be connecting meditating on scripture with their desire to change their thinking, get filled with the Spirit, change how their emotions rule them, or change a dozen other things we talk about here at Nofap. But, they are connected. When we focus on a new skill we are uncomfortable with, we make fast progress.


Today's focus is not to try to force you to memorize scripture. The focus is to talk about what we all do. We focus more on prayer, or on obedience, love, or whatever. We also focus less on some things that we should focus on (some of those same things). Today, we should all consider doing a self-exam to discover... what are they always writing about on Nofap that I just don't do? Is there a connection to how my life is folding out because of that?

If you want to quit P faster, you should be reading today's ideas and you should be focusing on certain ideas that were vital to you from past articles. If you want to quit P faster consider memorizing that last sentence. Consider praying:

“Father, please show me what articles to focus on repeatedly.”

Second, maybe you don't care about blessing or memorization. You just want to get self-control. But there is a connection between meditating on scripture and self-control.

Maybe you are focused on being filled with the Spirit. But there is a connection between meditating on scripture and being filled with the Spirit. Consider praying:

“Father, please show me what is connected to the things that I am working on. Show me the skills that I need to focus on.”

Last, always increase the skill of turning aggressively from lust. Be prepared, always practice it, always focus on it, always pray about it, and always do it. Because there is a huge connection between what we want in life and running from sin.
 

Gordon 7

Well-Known Member
Proverbs 22:3A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”

We try a new TV show. A prudent man foresees evil and prepares. He prays, is ready to fast forward, and is ready to turn it off. He has prayed, “Father help me to turn from temptation” 5 times before temptation happens. He is currently thinking about trying to have a great life instead of some short-term pleasure.

Why do so many of the people who have 100-plus days clean go to such great lengths to “hide themselves?” Because they are starting to see what life can be like when they start doing things God's way.

Memorizing the above verse is step one to becoming a prudent man. Why? Because we forget the last 3 words of the verse.

Second, a prudent man will be ready and prepared every day for the next 365 days. Because of that, they will avoid what happens to a simple man in the verse.

Third, if you have to go to the beach or someplace where hot chicks will be about, prepare. Bring a Christian book. Bring some key Bible verses. If you see yourself about to get into a tempting situation pray the above prayer 5 times before the temptation even gets heated up. Then focus on your verses for a while, then focus on your book.

Last, I have been writing a lot about trying to start getting the Psalm one blessing. Most of us are screwed up enough that it will probably take a few years of changes before it happens. But... doing the above things are also the exact same things we do to start down the road towards blessing.
 

Gordon 7

Well-Known Member
P kills our joy. If we give in for a day, our joy will be hugely diminished for a week. It may even be hugely diminished for a month or a year. It is wise to be aware of this fact every day of the year.

When we live like John 15 says we will have more and more joy. This chapter talks about bearing fruit as Christians. This is a great goal. But first, we need verse 10.

10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

People grow weary of Bible study, prayer, and memorization, but not me. Why? Because I have already experienced the joy of living the way John 15 says to live. I know that I can increase that joy even more.

Because I have tasted that joy I will not be fooled by satan's invitation to a day of his pleasures. I know the full consequences of that day.

Yes, the 18-year-old P addict whose dream girlfriend dumped him knows some consequences. But often he is totally unaware that satan was sucking his joy out of him at every turn as well. He is unaware that he has lost his ability to enjoy the simple things in life. He can't even relax and do normal things. He has to be on sin's crazy train to even get by.

Consider praying: “Father, show me the full consequences.”



Secondly, John 15 says to obey, love, and bear fruit. Consider praying:

“Father, show me the consequences of living life exactly like John 15 says.”

Yes, verse 11 already answered that. But we need to be reminded a million times.
 

Gordon 7

Well-Known Member
Becomingchristians.com noted the following:

“When Satan tempted Adam and Eve, the first thing he did was to twist the truth. From there, he planted a seed of doubt in the mind of Eve. He presented sin as something that should be desired. He capitalized on man’s vanity. He made God a liar and persuade Adam and Eve that they can do better without Him.”

Satan convinced Adam and Eve that sin should be desired. Today he will try to convince you that some sin should be desired.

What if A&E had told satan: God's ways are right? What if they rejected satan's temptation and meditated on what God had said?

Today, fight satan by meditating on what God has said. By saying that God's ways are good. By praising God instead of listening to satan.

Satan gets really tired of hearing scriptures truth from you. Today, make it your goal to make him be competely exhausted.
 

Gordon 7

Well-Known Member
A Christian is supposed to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. When we spend time in Bible study and prayer this is supposed to be the result. If this is not happening for you it is wise to ask the Holy Spirit why. Consider praying:

“Father, please show me why Your power is not on me?”

Often sin is a problem, but what if we are fighting with all our might against sin? What then?

Often God has something for us to do for Him. Sometimes it is big, sometimes it is a small thing. There are 100 responses we can have. Often we can connect our weak response with a weak level of power in our lives.

When we look at Biblical Paul we think... he was chosen, special, gifted. We could never be like him. While that is likely true, we could be a lot more like him if our response to God's will was a lot more like his was. His response was a 100 on a scale of 1 to 100, what is my response? A 10, a 30, a 40?

Why do we respond like this? Because we have very important things to do today, this week and this month. Paul knew that doing God's will was more important than any of those things. I don't know that. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to do Your will.”

“Father, show me what is important in life.”

When our focus is on what is important in life our problems get smaller. When our focus on what is important in life is closer to 80 or 90 we suddenly receive a huge amount of power to overcome from the Holy Spirit.

When our focus is on what is important in life, we will start to see the abundant life as a huge reality, instead of seeing some small glimpses of it.
 

Gordon 7

Well-Known Member
How would an expert learn the habit of turning aggressively from lust?
When I played softball I led the league in hitting. Why? Because I thought about and mentally practiced my swing 5 or 10 times before the game even started. Then, when I got up to bat I mentally went through my process for hitting with each pitch. I focused on keeping the bat on the correct plane from start to finish, on keeping my shoulders in perfect balance and level, and on avoiding the high pitch, because fly balls make outs (when you have small muscles as I do).

Satan will throw a lot of balls at you. The first step is to develop skills on how to turn away. The second step is to become obsessed with being ready for his every pitch.
Today, start a list of every idea you read here for turning away. Then add to that list every day.
This skill will increase the Light in your life. The more Light we have, the more we will overcome.
For the full article click https://forum.nofap.com/index.php?threads/learn-from-experts.325439/
 

Gordon 7

Well-Known Member
This is day one of my compilation of quotes about turning from lust.


I always write about developing the habit of turning instantly from sin, and praying, “Father, help me to turn aggressively from sin because when we look even for a moment, we open Pandora's box. Once it is open we got full-time trouble.

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

Jack Wellman said: "The first point I see in this is to submit to God because if someone’s not yet submitted to God, they really can’t resist the devil and he won’t flee."

We begin this process of "Resisting the devil” when we pray before and during temptation: "Father, help me to turn instantly from temptation." Then when satan temps you, just tell him no.
Second, we submit to God with full repentance and with a plan to do right. With these two tools, we can make him flee.
Third: Pray: “Father, guide my eyes.”

Forth: Proverbs 6 says: "Do not desire her beauty in your heart, Nor let her capture you with her eyelids."
Pray: Father help me to not desire the beauty of a sinful woman.”
 

Gordon 7

Well-Known Member
6 keys to fighting frustrations that lead to lust

  1. When life is tough (and when it's not), avoid sights and situations that cause lust.

  2. Say no instantly when lust starts. Then decide if you need to go to the verses for quitting to overcome the temptation, or whether it is mild enough for you to fight it off with prayer.

  3. John Piper wrote: “We must stock our minds with the superior promises and pleasures of Jesus. Then we must turn to them immediately after saying, “NO!”

  4. To overcome we must focus on the Word until the Holy Spirit's power takes over.

  5. Piper continues: “Have you fought for joy? Don’t be fatalistic. You were created to treasure Christ with all your heart — more than you treasure sex or sugar. If you have little taste for Jesus, competing pleasures will triumph. Plead with God for the satisfaction you don’t have: “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:14). Then look, look, and look at the most magnificent Person in the universe until you see him the way he is.” Consider praying:

    “Father, show me how to fight for Your joy.”

    “Father, show me how to treasure You.”

  6. Lastly, Piper said: “Find a good work to do, and do it with all your might.”
For the whole article click https://forum.nofap.com/index.php?threads/frustration.321353/
 

Gordon 7

Well-Known Member
Find positive addictions that encourage you to be disconnected from your TV/computer. Things like cooking, trying to make new friends, and meditating. I am currently meditating on several verses including 2 Timothy 1:7 “For the Spirit of the Lord has not given us a spirit of fear, but gives us a Spirit of power, love, and self-control.”

This verse has inspired me to disconnect even more from electronics even more because... why don't I have power, love, and self-control. Probably because I am plugged into the wrong things.

Second, add the positive addiction of eating healthy. We can fight temptation better when we feel better. Spending time outdoors makes us feel better as well.

Lastly, develop the positive addiction of becoming an expert at overcoming habits. We also get positive dopamine when we push to learn this valuable skill. Start planning, get organized, obsessed, and excited... positive addictions will improve your life.

For the full article https://forum.nofap.com/index.php?threads/positive-addictions.321682/
 

Gordon 7

Well-Known Member
When nothing helps us change we have frustration. Matthew 16:24 KJV Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

When we feel hopeless, it is unlikely that we are currently focusing on denying ourselves. We all have overindulgences that lead us back to bad things. Consider praying: “Father, show me what things I should deny myself from.”

Second, Jesus is here for people who have hopelessness. But usually, He is here to give us a huge boost so that we are ready to take up his cross and follow Him. I wrote an article called the 1%. In that article, I challenge those who will take up their cross to learn 7 new habits this week.

New habits bring hope. They help us deny ourselves. They help us learn how to get our eyes off of our problems for long enough so that we can start to see how great it would be when we learn how to follow Him.

Third, bring out the sledgehammer. If you keep struggling, you have activities that are leading you back down that slippery slope. Smash on those activities with prayer, planning, and an increased focus on the Bible. When you find a Nofap article that helps you smash your exact problem, print it out. Use it to smash that problem. Smash on it every day.

When you decide today that you will do from now on what God wants you to do. You will have discovered the key to hope. That key is following Jesus Christ and doing exactly what He wants us to do.
 
Top