The Power to Overcome TemptationSample

How to Fight Temptation, Step-By-Step

“I have made up my mind to obey your laws forever, no matter what.” Psalm 119:112 (CEV)

When people feel ineffective or defeated in life, it’s often because they don’t know how to fight the battle going on in their minds. They don’t realize that temptation involves a process; it’s not an isolated act. And even though it’s a process, that process can happen quickly in just four steps.

Step one is desire. God gave you the desire to drink, sleep, eat, and have sex, and there is nothing wrong with those desires. But temptation turns a natural desire into a runaway desire. It becomes more important than other things, and it’s all you can think about.

Step two is doubt—about God, his Word, and his love. Doubt happens anytime you’re wondering, “Well, I know the Bible says this, but did God really mean this applies to sex [or food or whatever]?” You start to doubt if you can trust God and his Word.

Step three is deception. You start believing a lie. Satan knows your weaknesses. He knows what will get your attention and move you from desire to doubt to deception.

Step four is disobedience and defeat. This is when your temptation becomes a sin. What got your attention turns into attraction, and attraction becomes an attitude, and the attitude becomes an action. Temptation is not a sin—action is.

The Bible explains it this way: “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death” (James 1:14-15 NLT).

You’re free to choose what you think about in life. But you are not free from the consequences of your choices. That’s why the best time to win the battle of your mind is before it starts. Psalm 119:112 explains it this way: “I have made up my mind to obey your laws forever, no matter what” (CEV).

Have you made up your mind to obey God’s Word, no matter what? Resolve today to recognize temptation and turn away from it before it goes a step further.

This devotional © 2024 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.