About Resisting Temptation
Have you ever been stuck in a sin cycle where it looked like you had no way out?
If so, I’m sure you are familiar with the questions: How did I get here, and Why is temptation so hard to overcome?
In this article, we’re going to guide you through the act of resisting temptation and conquering sin at all stages.
Think about your pay cycle. There are normally two weeks to a month after working before you get paid.
Sin also has a cycle. It starts with an idea, but then takes on a whole life of its own before it gets fully grown. What kind of grace does God give to get out of this cycle?
Stage 1: Why We Sin and Why We Need to Be Born Again
For rich families, we may say their children are ‘born into wealth.’ What we mean is that no work is required for them to acquire certain benefits.
In a similar way, we are born into sin: Stage 1 of the sin process.
This is where we are put into environments beyond our control. Often, these environments impact our lives in ways we would have never chosen ourselves.
Think about how you were impacted by that uncle who lived with you when you were two. He cussed like a sailor, and so… you learned how to cuss.
The devil hopes to build on foundations like these to create sinful habits and strongholds in our lives, but God has an answer for this.
Throughout our lives, there are many ways God tries to use people to intervene. Sometimes, God commissions others to step in, but the person isn’t courageous enough to remove us from toxic environments.
God’s ultimate intervention plan is through Jesus. He knows that we are born into sin, and by accepting his salvation we become Born Again.
Click here to learn more about salvation and what it means for your life.
Do We Still Have A Sin Nature After Salvation?
After we’re born again, the Bible says that we are no longer ‘slaves to sin.’ That doesn’t mean that we don’t sin. It means that we don’t have to let our sins boss us around.
This means we no longer have to accept the idea that ‘we’ll always be a _____.’ (pick a sin)
When we receive Jesus, he empowers us with his Holy Spirit, and we can now conquer spiritual battles. And we continue to conquer these battles through spiritual conditioning.
Spiritual conditioning is like muscle conditioning, making our spirits strong through practicing spiritual habits that help us overcome temptations when they arise.
You can condition your spiritual muscles effectively when you practice surrendering to God in the moment. The more you surrender, the stronger your spirit becomes.
Choosing this path is how we keep our consciences clear in a sinful world.
Stage 2: How to Stop Being Tempted Easily
As we discussed earlier, some seeds were sewn inside the environments we were born into, and others were planted along the way.
We are tempted easily when we embrace sinful thoughts over and over, instead of rejecting them…..over and over.
The world tells us to “own” our mistakes. However, I believe this is detrimental as owning something is a form of acceptance. The Bible tells us to repent from sin, not to own it.
James 1:14 says that “each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.”
How did the evil desire get there? We began to embody it when we claimed it as our own. “This is who I am.” “This is what the Smiths do. ”
In actuality, evil desires only become a lifestyle for us when we start making it our own identity.
To stop being tempted so easily, we must stop embracing suggestions from the enemy, minimizing mistakes that are important to God, and embodying them as identities.
Then, we need to take an active stance to disown it and embrace our new identity in Christ. This will decrease our appetites for sin and open the door for something new.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here! ” 2 Corithians 5:7 NIV
Have you ever had a sinful thought or dream and had no idea where it came from? Perhaps you saw something in a movie that was subconsciously planted in your mind.
Don’t embrace that thought, that evil desire, or whatever it is no matter where it came from. It is your God-given right to take a stand and avoid this suggestion from the enemy.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2a NIV
Making Wise Choices
Making wise choices helps us to avoid being in enticing situations. This helps us build security in life. Just as there are consequences for sin, there are evident rewards for applying wisdom.
In addition to his Word, God will also help you develop a personal plan to keep your spirit strong. This will be developed in your prayer time with God.
Spending this time will help you avoid being tempted easily and keep you from being dragged away by evil desires.
How have your daily choices (what you read, what you watch, what you listen to, who you hang out with) shape your character?
Will they help you withstand the pressure of temptation, or do they help fortify and reinforce sinful thoughts and ideas?
Stage 3: What It Means to Resist Temptation Before It’s Too Late
Let’s explore a situation where you do decide to own the desire. You say, ‘Yep, that resonates. I like that.’
What happens next is still up to you.
God has given us the power to think new thoughts and choose his way before acting it out.
This is where resistance and using your authority in Jesus comes in.
Jesus says, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Luke 10:19 NIV
Yes, you were tempted; Yep it triggered you, but you can overcome it. God is so serious about our success, that he gives us the power to get radical.
Recognizing God’s intervention at this stage is critical. This is the time to flex your spiritual muscles and say, ‘Not today Satan, or ‘Get behind me Satan’, or ‘The Blood of Jesus is against you. ’
Instead of allowing sin to conceive, we can make firm decisions to simply leave it alone.
“And if your hand—even your stronger hand[a]—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” Matthew 5:30 NLT
Practically, this may look like blocking inappropriate websites on your computer, taking a break from social media, or skipping the after party.
It takes some grit. It’s not easy to walk away from things, entertainment, or relationships.
However, Jesus has empowered us with a resistance so supernatural, we can turn around right in the middle of it. Sin does not control us.
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 NIV
Full Grown Sin
According to a 2025 study conducted by the Barna Group on temptation and behavior, 59% of the participants aren’t currently doing anything special to avoid it.
This is unfortunate because the latter part of James 1:15 says that when sin is full-grown, it brings death.
Sometimes, we allow ourselves to get to this stage out of rebellion. We convince ourselves that God’s way wasn’t working for us and so we’ll do it our way. This is false empowerment.
In this stage, we’re developing a self-sufficiency mindset. Doesn’t that remind you of what happened with Satan?
He started with a privileged position as an angel, and decided that one day he wanted to be in control.
I’ll think I’ll do it my way’ is choosing to get caught in the sin cycle. But I have good news.
Unlike Satan, we are not at the point of no return. He tries to make us think we are, but when we read the scriptures, we are reminded of God’s love.
When we begin to understand that following God’s Word gives us power, we can stop sin from spinning out of control in our lives.
Let’s look back at the analogy in James 1:15 to better understand this stage. It says that when sin becomes full-grown, it will bring death.
In the same way, if we were to leave a child to raise himself, they will get into all kinds of trouble. Pizza and candy everyday; forks in sockets. You name it.
When children are unchecked, you can be sure some form of destruction is coming.
There’s nothing fun about leaving sin unchecked. It kills relationships. It kills dreams, and it kills people.
It’s good news to know that because Christ is in our hearts, we don’t have to let sin push us around like this.
When we accept Jesus’ intervention, we are free to enjoy the abundant life he came to give us, and the eternal life he’s planning for us.
Why Can't God Just Stop Sin?
God decided to give us the choice between life and death, but he did not leave us by ourselves. He gave us an example to follow to show us what it looks like to choose life. That is why Jesus came.
In fact, the Bible says that WHILE we were sinning, Jesus came to die, so that we don’t have to pay for our own sins. And he’s still intervening.
Remember the story of the Samaritan woman? Jesus came to her in time before the devil had his ultimate way with her.
Because of sin, so many things in her life had already died. Her relationships weren’t great, and since fornication harms the body, parts of her body or emotions may have been disturbed.
However, Jesus cared so much about her life, that before she kept going on this treacherous, cycle of self-sabotage, he intervened.
Think about a time God when you are sure you heard God speak to you.
How do you think he was intervening, and what did He say to do?
A Final Word
God specializes in grace.
His grace empowers us to live in freedom, hear his voice, and believe him for something greater than the temporary fun sin brings.
We get to this place of freedom by following him when he calls us, listening to him when he tries to warn us, and renewing our strength with his Word.
The Bible says the wages of sin is death, but that doesn’t happen overnight. There’s always a saving grace that he gives.
God is so faithful. He doesn’t stop us from sinning, but he has given us a master plan to keep us from falling.
Jude 1:24-25
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”
A Prayer for Overcoming Temptation
Heavenly Father, I pray that whoever is reading this find the freedom and hope you have for them today. Open their hearts right now to accept your goodness and your good plan for them.
Send people their way who can help them grow and angels to assist them. Lift them back up when they feel they’ve gone too far.
Thank you for the guidance your Holy Spirit is going to give them and for destroying all ties to the sin they struggle with through your anointing.
I bless them in the name of Jesus and loose an anointing to begin fully using the gifts you have placed inside of them. In Jesus’ mighty name; Amen.
What is one thing you are good at? Ask God how you can serve him in this area and begin discussing it with him in prayer.
This activity is a part of habit substitution. Try using this method to help move you from any condemnation you feel back to freedom.