(1) Pray Preemptively About Temptation Temptation comes at us when we least expect it. It catches us off guard and tries to blindside us. In the heat of temptation we are so consumed with desires that often we find no strength to pray or no power when we do. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that we pray prior to the onslaught of temptation. Pray that the Holy Spirit would enable you to sense the approach of temptation and to have the resolve to flee from it. Pray that God would empower you to recognize your weaknesses and avoid those things that might compel you to sin. Pray that Christ would reveal more of His gloriousness to you that makes the things of this world seem dim. Pray prior to sin that God would keep you from it: “lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from the evil one.”
(2) Have a Public Plan for Fighting Specific Sins Along with having an accountability partner, have a plan for fighting specific sins that others know about and can hold you accountable to. Perhaps taking some of these strategies and applying them directly to your life for the battle over certain struggles. Develop a plan for breeding contentment with little in your heart and share it with your accountability partner. Give yourself a budget, fast from certain excesses, and share this plan with your friends. Failure in the fight against sin can often be closely connected to something as simple as no accountability.
(3) Call Sin Sin and Surround Yourself with Friends Who Will Do the Same Don’t allow yourself to justify disobedience by labeling it as “Sickness,” “weakness,” or “character flaws.” Call sin what it is, “sin,” and rebellion against God. Identifying it keeps us from overlooking it. And surrounding ourselves with friends who will be concerned with our spiritual growth over and above our self-esteem will only aid the battle for holiness.
(4) Remember that Life is a Vapor Along with longing for eternity is remembering that this life is short and will quickly pass away. Storing up treasure in heaven becomes more important to us when we realize that it is close at hand. Living for worldly goods, fame, and success is insanity in the face of eternity. Fight sin by remembering that soon the judgment will come, and eternity with God will begin, where there is joy forevermore.
(5) Study the Holiness of God Nothing withers sinful desires like a thorough understanding of the holiness of God. Knowing that God is pure, just, holy, and righteous, that He cannot stand to look upon sin should strike terror into the heart of the believer. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the almighty God.” Remember this, study it, and let it grip you as you wage war against sinful desires.
Sparrow & Heart Soul Care 