8 Practical Ways to Flee from Temptation in the Moment

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“‘Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak’” (Matt. 26:41). There are times when it’s especially difficult to resist acting upon our sinful desires. Here are eight practical things you can do to flee temptation in the moment (all Scripture quotations from the English Standard Version).

1. Start praying fervently.

In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. (Ps. 18:6)

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. (Ps. 34:17)

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Ps. 145:18)

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matt. 26:41)

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Rom. 8:26)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Phil. 4:6)

2. Grab your Bible and read a few chapters.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. (Ps. 1:1-3)

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (Ps. 119:11)

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Ps. 119:105)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Heb. 4:12)

3. Leave the presence of whoever or whatever is tempting you and get to a safe place.

But one day, when [Joseph] went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. (Gen. 39:11-12)

“For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” (John 3:20)

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. (1 Cor. 6:18)

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Cor. 10:13)

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. (Eph. 5:11)

4. Reach out to a Christian family member or friend who will support you in obeying God.

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Eccles. 4:12)

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. (Prov. 13:20)

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. (Prov. 17:6)

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Prov. 17:17)

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal. 6:2)

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1 Thess. 5:11)

5. Consider all the potential harmful consequences of not resisting the temptation.

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and call insight your intimate friend,
to keep you from the forbidden woman,
from the adulteress with her smooth words….
Let not your heart turn aside to her ways;
do not stray into her paths,
for many a victim has she laid low,
and all her slain are a mighty throng.
Her house is the way to Sheol,
going down to the chambers of death. (Prov. 7:4-5; 25-27)

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (Prov. 14:12)

“Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!” (Matt. 18:7)

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Gal. 6:7-8)

…the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. (2 Pet. 2:9-10)

6. Meditate on all the blessings God has given you.

Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! (Ps. 112:1)

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isa. 41:10)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. (Eph. 1:3)

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:19)

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:2)

7. Remember that God has called you as his child to walk in holiness.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21)

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46)

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (Rom. 6:16)

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Pet. 1:14-16)

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 2:3-6)

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3)

8. With a grateful heart, dwell on all Jesus has done for you.

“Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:28)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:6-8)

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:21)

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Eph. 5:2)

Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Phil. 2:6-8)

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. (Col. 2:13-14)

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1 Pet. 2:24)

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