We all face temptations that must be resisted – but how? Here are four practical suggestions that might help.
First, we should avoid temptation as much as possible. It may seem manly to face it head-on but it’s wiser to avoid it in the first place if we can.
Second, we must watch temptation where it begins. It is important to stop danger at the start. A fire is easily extinguished at the beginning but not so after it has grown. Temptation starts inside a man. (See James 1:14) So when evil first rises in the heart, it needs to be crushed.
Third, we must fill our lives with good things. Man’s heart is not a vacuum. It will be filled with either good or evil. Fill it with good thus leaving no room for evil.
Fourth, we must keep our eye on the final outcome. James wrote: “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:15) With our eye on the ruin sin brings, we will be less inclined to yield to temptation.
Claude