If you are at the place where you recognize the distraction and you’re trying to stay focused, the best way to resist the temptation is to increase your actual “study” of the Word and increase your conversations with your accountability partner.
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
When the desires of your flesh have been provoked, the best weapon against it is the Word of God. Hands down, there is nothing stronger than your own desires, except the Word of God, and even it has a struggle with your flesh once it has been provoked.
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. Galatians 5:17
The way to keep from doing what your flesh wants to do is for you to go on the offense and increase your study of the Word. In the Word, you will find reminders of God’s promises for you if you don’t give in. You will find the promise of His reward for you if you endure the trial and the temptation. You will find forgiveness after you have made mistakes. You will find clarity when you’ve made a mess of your situation. You will find comfort that even the greatest of those God used in the bible had flaws just like you and me. You will find YOU in the Word. And most importantly, you will find the strength to overcome your greatest enemy – yourself.
I don’t just mean for you to read your bible. Enlist the help of a study guide, an actual written study of the bible, to help you read, understand and then apply the Word. Start or join a small bible study group. There are also plenty of online bible study virtual groups. Either way, you must find an applicable Word of understanding, otherwise you will be powerless to control yourself, and you’ll find yourself standing in the mirror asking, “What is wrong with me?” “Why am I doing this?”
Another important thing to remember is that you cannot handle the desires of your flesh alone. I often say this but I cannot say it enough. It is not good for you to be alone without anyone to whom you can tell anything. Eve was separated from Adam when the enemy approached her. As I said in my last post, his tactics have not changed. He knows the best time to approach you is when you are isolated, with no help or accountability. Without anyone but YOURSELF to guard against temptation, you will spend too much time trying to “reason” with your desires. Have you ever been in an argument with yourself about what you should do?
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, that I do. When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. What I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Romans 7:7-25
Can you relate?
Now, let’s talk about what happens when you’ve given in to the temptation. How do you regroup?
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16
The best way to be healed and/or get re-focused is confession. A good friend can provide a safe place for you to uncover your flaws, sins, temptations, worries, fears, insecurities, etc, as well as encourage and correct you when what you think and feel does not line up with the truth of God’s Word. The Word and your accountability partner will help you overcome the enemy and get refocused.
They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. Rev 12:11
Lastly, if you’re anything like me, you’ve had plenty of situations that are a result of your own disobedience. It’s important that we learn from those situations, accept responsibility for our mistakes, but then MOVE ON with the new knowledge that we have learned. Refocusing and regrouping is all a matter of your decision to do so. Don’t waste time wallowing in your mistake or worrying about what happened. Don’t waste time being angry. Learn from it and keep going! The enemy will attempt to distract you with thoughts of depression, doubt, discouragement, condemnation, and hopelessness, in an attempt to rob you of your strength to continue in the process of growth. You must decide that what’s done is done. You cannot change what is done or what happened to you. But you can control how you respond to it and whether or not you allow it get you off course, set you back or make you quit altogether. You can choose not to continue making the same mistakes. You can choose not to let it affect your attitude and behavior. You can choose not to fall back into whom or what you used to be. You can choose to hurt on the move and cry on the way, but keep going!
YOU CAN CHOOSE.
Choose wisely.
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