How to Fight Temptation

1. QUOTE SCRIPTURE

Jesus showed us the best way to fight temptation by quoting short verses when he was faced with the desire to do wrong, during a time of doubt. The verses he quoted were as short as 3 to 5 words long in the Hebrew. The English translations make them longer.

The point is, you don't need to memorize paragraphs of scripture to fight temptation.

Jesus prefaced his verses with, "It is written...."

So lets say you are tempted to get drunk with some friends. You might say, "The Bible says, 'don't be drunk....'" You don't need to quote the entire verse. Verses and chapters were actually added hundreds of years after the Bible was written. Jesus had no chapter and verses, so when he quoted from Deuteronomy, he did not try to quote an entire section or verse as we know it, but only what was necessary for the temptation.

2. KEEP QUOTING SCRIPTURE

Just because you succeed in quoting a scripture does not mean the temptation will go away. Its going to keep coming back and you will need to continue to quote and fight. In a short time the temptation will go away. If you memorize verses, which is awesome, focus on the meaning of those verses.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET THE EXACT WORDS

But you do need to catch the core meaning of the verse. Exact words are good, but understanding the meaning of verses is better than rambling off memorized words.

SOME GOOD SCRIPTURE TO USE WHEN TEMPTED (Some I have put in my own words)

Go away Satan, for you do not serve God's interests, but human interests.

Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Every temptation is common to people.

God will make a way to escape every temptation.

Don't test the Lord your God.

Don't depend on your own understanding.

Don't worry about tommorrow.

You will have no other Gods.

There are so many more verses you can use in the middle of temptation. As you read your Bible, pick out the verses that mean a lot to you, write down and memorize the parts that mean a lot to you.