I’ve discovered a few secrets about temptation that I would like to share with you.

Strategy #1 – Eliminate the Temptation

I have a particular love for white wine. When it is chilling in the fridge I find it difficult to resist. Red wine on the other hand is not a source of temptation, as I don’t like it.

I am not an alcoholic but I could easily drink one or two or maybe even three glasses of white wine a day. My doctor told me that was a bad idea and in fact she told me about the elevated health risks associated with drinking too much alcohol. So I find the best strategy to deal with this “white wine” temptation is to not have white wine in the house all of the time.

Strategy #2 – If you cannot eliminate the temptation and the temptation is putting you at risk then you may need support

I know people who were addicted to drugs and alcohol and have through the help of rehab professionals like Alcoholic’s Anonymous healed and become strong.  It takes courage to admit that you have addiction and it takes even greater courage to seek help. God will help all those who come to Him for assistance.

“I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Strategy #3 – Beware the love of money!

Satan tempts many people with money and power, yet neither of these things brings true fulfillment and happiness. Will falling asleep holding your money make you happy? If you become sick will money have the power to heal you?

“Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” 1 Timothy 6:9

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5

Enjoy the simple pleasures in life that money cannot buy!

Strategy #4 – Choose to honour God and say NO to sexual immorality!

If we are people of God then we must honour God’s commandments. Satan wants people to be sexually promiscuous and the devil feeds this sexual lust with pornography and casual attitudes towards sex. But God is very clear: “You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14

“Run from sexual immorality! Every sin a person can commit is outside the body. On the contrary, the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body.” 1 Corinthians 6:18

Strategy #5 – Make time to Read the Scriptures!

God gives us all free will and He gives us His Sacred Book, The Bible that teaches us His Holy Will. Yet we can go most of our life without reading a single word. Love is a choice. Temptation dissolves as we come to understand the great privilege of being in a sacred relationship with God and we come to understand His will when we study the Scriptures.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3: 16-17

Strategy #6 – Spend quiet time with God

Sometimes we spend more time petitioning God than really listening to Him.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

When we live busy lives the concept of finding some quiet time to be alone with God may seem impossible, so your first challenge may to figure out how to make this sacred time happen. When there is a will there is always a way.

Make time to be alone with God and God will help you to hear His voice speaking through the power of His Holy Spirit living within you. Ask God to inspire you to understand His Will and watch how temptation vanishes and God’s Way becomes illuminated. It will be like seeing a path of light emerge in the darkness. The light leads us away from sin towards the righteous will of Our God!

Strategy #7 – Fall in love with Jesus and GET PASSIONATE ABOUT GOD!

Have you ever noticed how disciplined athletes are who are getting ready to compete for a big event? They are meticulous about how they eat and how they train. Why? Because they are passionate about their sport and they want to WIN!

If we are truly passionate about God and we want to win the spiritual race that culminates in heaven then we need to get passionate about Our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Do you know this Scripture: “We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

The reason I am dedicating my life to building a global prayer movement that stands daily at the foot of the Cross of Jesus at the time He died for us (3pm) is because I fell deeply in love with Jesus meditating on His Passion and I know you will too!

We love Jesus because He first loved us! Jesus suffered so much for us so that we could be free not live in the bondage of sin and temptation.

I urge you to try to find some time every day to stop and meditate on the Passion of Christ. I am very confident this practice will change your life as it changes your heart. How can we resist Our God who is willing to be tortured and killed for our redemption? Look into the eyes of Jesus as He is hanging on the Cross suffering for you and let Jesus kill the temptation in your life as He lifts you up to new life.

Please learn more about The Mercy Movement and join the global prayer movement of Christians that are uniting daily in prayer at the foot of the Cross of Jesus (if but for a few moments) to love and adore Our Saviour as we pray for the salvation of all souls.