Bible repeatedly tells us to keep our minds focused: “Fix your
thoughts on Jesus.”^5 “Always think about Jesus Christ.”^6
“Fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve
praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and
honorable.”^7
If you’re serious about defeating temptation you must manage
your mind and monitor your media intake. The wisest man who
ever lived warned, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by
your thoughts.”^8 Don’t allow trash into your mind indiscriminately.
Be selective. Choose carefully what you think about. Follow Paul’s
model: “We capture every thought and make it give up and obey
Christ.”^9 This takes a lifetime of practice, but with the help of the
Holy Spirit you can reprogram the way you think.
Reveal your struggle to a godly friend or support group.
You don’t have to broadcast it to the whole world, but you need
at least one person you can honestly share your struggles with.
The Bible says, “You are better off to have a friend than to be all
alone.... If you fall, your friend can help you up. But if you fall
without having a friend nearby, you are really in trouble.”^10
Let me be clear: If you’re losing the battle against a persistent
bad habit, an addiction, or a temptation, and you’re stuck in a
repeating cycle of good intention-failure-guilt, you will not get
better on your own! You need the help of other people. Some
temptations are only overcome with the help of
a partner who prays for you, encourages you,
and holds you accountable.
God’s plan for your growth and freedom
includes other Christians. Authentic, honest
fellowship is the antidote to your lonely struggle against those
sins that won’t budge. God says it is the only way you’re going to
break free: “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so
that you may be healed.”^11
Do you really want to be healed of that persistent temptation
that keeps defeating you over and over? God’s solution is plain:
The Purpose-Driven Life 212DAY TWENTY-SEVEN:
DEFEATING
TEMPTATION