Temptation and bad habits

[grampster]

Maybe this would be a good topic for discussion. I find many discussions among Christians seem to emphasize how "Christian" they are. Some to the point of looking down on others who may struggle not only with their faith, but with behavior that has become, for the lack of a better word, habitual. I sometimes wonder about that. Temptation seems to always precedes willful sin. Corinthians 10:13. That leads to the problem of willful sin. Psalm 19:13. I pointed out the verses because the words temptation and willful sin are contained within. So they must be a problem for the Christian who is turning away from himself and trying to live in Christ.

How are we to deal with temptation? Is succumbing to temptation willful sin? What if the sin has been a lifelong habit, but becomes recognized fully as sin after repentance? How should we react to that? Does that call into question one's being repentant and born again? I have seen comments to that effect. Comments of that nature seem a bit smug. Are they? I find my attitude regarding looking down my nose at sinners to be sinful. You might have a problem that I don't have. My usual thoughts on that matter are that I have enough problems dealing with my own sinful nature and behavior and habits, so I shouldn't be criticizing others. Perhaps that's the point of the scripture about the mote and the plank.

Anyway, I'm interested in what any of you might have to say about temptation and the issue of bad habits that may be sinful.

Off Topic Thought: I was reminded about a sentence in the 23rd Psalm..."He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Namesake..." He doesn't lead us then for our own good necessarily? But rather that we be a reflection of Him to others. Sorry for the drift, but I've been wondering about that too. (Heh, thread drift by the author of the thread. That has to be a first.)

[CaryC]

Hey Grampster,

Good thoughts, and I will take a stab at it. It's also a big topic so advising someone by saying "just don't" isn't going to work.

I think there are at least 2, maybe more.....things involved in temptation.

One is "triggers". I was addicted to smoking cigarettes. Having quit several times before, unsuccessfully, I knew there would be triggers that would come up. Morning coffee, and a cig. were wonderful. Break time at work. After eating. Stressful situations would be triggers. Not having something to do with my hands. This on top of the nicotine addiction that would be a constant pull to smoke one, and get stronger and stronger as time went on without one.

Once the final decision was made I kept smoking for about 2 weeks. So I could get my head screwed on straight.

I decided to use the patches to wing me off the bodily addiction. I changed my focus/thinking from a smoker trying to quit, to a non-smoker trying to start. Chewed about 2 packs of Juicy Fruit gum a day, to keep my hands and mouth busy. Easier to replace teeth, then a lung. But the rest of the triggers I met full on from day one. I didn't want to have to deal with a trigger like coffee a couple of weeks after I was done.

And the other is recognizing tempting situations and don't go into them. For instance, if you sit around and watch porno for 8 hours a day, you're going to have problems. So don't get started watching them. AFA has some men watching porno 8 hours a day so they could tell everyone else not to watch it because ....... Most if not all of them are addicted to it. Gotten divorced, and lives ruined.

I also think a person really needs to understand what constitutes temptations for them. There are some base line temptations and then others are just for an individual.

You also need to understand if you are already addicted. For instance if you realize you are addicted to porno, and want to overcome it. There are several things you can do to help. Various blockers for TV and internet. But that doesn't deal with your heart. It's like me using the patch to quit smoking. It stops the bombardment, but it won't stop what you see out in the real world everyday. You have to know that's coming and be prepared for it. And then there are things you can do to help yourself. Like don't go to the mall in the summer. You would be asking for it. Situational awareness comes to mind. And know what to do if you're the first person the terrorist faces.

In my opinion sinful nature, behavior and habits are not easily broken. I think the reason for this is you appreciate the victory if you work for it.

At first you realize your problem and pray about it. You make an effort to stop, you fail. You get frustrated with yourself and with God. And I think I lot of that comes from not understanding how things work. Proverbs say what does a righteous man do when he falls, he gets up 7 times.

In my opinion doing that causes 2 things 1) it builds determination, and it reveals your heart to you, God already knows what is in your heart. 2) it builds strength. In the same way a body builder does. You did 10 pushups and it hurts bad. You determine to do it again tomorrow, and you do 11. Again tomorrow and you do 12.

Until it is no longer a temptation. However you know if you stop, your muscles will get flabby, and soft and you won't be able to do 10 again. So you have to keep doing all the things that gave you victory.

And for those who would look down their nose, pride goes before a fall. Even though overcoming temptation is totally on an individuals shoulders to do. I think we all can say except for the grace of God there go I.

And that's my view.

[grampster]

Good post, Cary. Oddly, I was mowing the lawn yesterday and I had my ear muffs on that has radio. I was scrolling past the religious stations to get to a talk station or some music from my generation. The good stuff from the 60's/70's/80's from The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac etc. But I stopped at one of the Christian stations and started listening to a pastor giving a sermon on addictions and temptations, sin. (go figger, eh?) His addiction was/is ice cream. (basically an truthful problem he had used as an allegory for gluttony) It was a great sermon and he touched on a lot of real physical temptations/emotions/self control issues. Isn't it funny when one is thinking about certain things that you wish God would make more clear, He speaks to you? Sometimes in the least expected forms. (I don't have much use for TV and radio preachers. Sort of like the other thread that talked about when Christianity came to America, it became a business.) This fellow was talking about how really, really good, even terrific, one feels when one pushes temptation aside and we feel so much more connected to the Lord as a result. He talked about the other side of that too; how bad we felt, how guilty we feel when we succumb to the temptation. He said that could go on for days sometimes. He hit the nail on the head on that one. Maybe that is part of the process the Lord uses to help us overcome habits we have had for years. He is a patient God, is he not? He also chastises those whom he loves as well.

As for smoking, my wife who smoked a couple packs of cigs a day for many years, woke up one morning and just quit. That was 30 years ago. I stopped smoking over a 10 year period. I just started smoking less and less and ID'd places where I couldn't smoke. I finally ran out of spaces to smoke and one day I was done. Your comment about avoiding trigger places is valid.

I think planting the scripture in your brain about temptations being common to all men and that they can never not be overcome, especially since the Lord will always give us a way out is a good first step. I have actually seen that process at work in my life. I have actually experienced The Out. Sometimes disregarding it to my frustration. Perhaps even chanting that quietly when temptation begins to swirl around us along with thanking God by Jesus through the Holy Spirit at the same time.

I hope a few more chime in as this is a topic that, it seems to me, can be a lonely one and is rarely discussed. No one need confess their temptations or failures here. Just spread a little help for each other.

[CaryC]

Hey Grampster,

Thanks for the input.

Temptation is where we have a soft spot for something. All I was trying to say is, we need to change the way we think about it, and resistance builds up a callus to it. And then there are things we can do that help us with that.

It's not a complicated thing. It's just something that needs doing. And in a lot of sermon's I've heard the position the pastor/preacher takes is, it's just something we have to live with, like a defeated life. Makes me wonder about them, if that is their belief, if they aren't living a defeated life.

I'm not advocating that we can walk in this world in a sinless life. If that were the case we don't need Jesus. What I am saying is we can over come. And in most cases it's a lot of hard work. A lot of falling, and getting back up, but it can be done. Then once we have achieved victory, we can't let our guard down, and become complacent.

Having firewood isn't a complicated thing. Cut tree, split wood, burn. It's just something that needs doing, and it's hard work, but the heat in the winter, or for the cook stove, is well worth it. Try doing that with your phone LOL.

[dmatic]

Good posts. I have been thinking of the phrase "the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10), recently. We often need strength to overcome particular strongholds within us. Strongholds in our hearts where an enemy has taken ground, or we have willingly ceded it. Where can we get the strength for these battles to take every thought captive and make it obey Christ? I think it helps to consider that our God and Father, Whose eyes are on the evil and the good, experiences joy when He sees a 'sinner' repenting. Jesus said something like: The angels in heaven rejoice more over one sinner repenting, than over 100 righteous that do not need repentance. Knowing that our repentance is, in itself, pleasing to God, the struggle to repent is the pathway to actually seeing God experience joy, by our efforts, which, of course, He is inspiring. The fact that God would experience joy, should be a great strength indeed, for someone that seeks to please Him by doing His will.

[Sojourner]

I just want to add that many forget about the importance of confessing your sin to others -- and my opinion is that doesn't just mean confessing sins to a brother we've offended. James 5:16 simply says to confess your sins to others so they may pray for you. Presumably, these would be fellow believers you can trust.

When you do this, you not only are seeking the prayers of others, but you are coming clean and preparing yourself for accountability. When others know, you are much more likely to be motivated to cease habitual sin.

So many hide their sins because of shame. This, of course, is due to pride. Our Heavenly Father wants us to lay down our pride, and come to him in complete humility and submission when we seek to overcome sin. Part of this humbling is asking fellow believers to help and pray for you.

[Sherree]

I just want to add that many forget about the importance of confessing your sin to others -- and my opinion is that doesn't just mean confessing sins to a brother we've offended. James 5:16 simply says to confess your sins to others so they may pray for you. Presumably, these would be fellow believers you can trust.

When you do this, you not only are seeking the prayers of others, but you are coming clean and preparing yourself for accountability. When others know, you are much more likely to be motivated to cease habitual sin.

So many hide their sins because of shame. This, of course, is due to pride. Our Heavenly Father wants us to lay down our pride, and come to him in complete humility and submission when we seek to overcome sin. Part of this humbling is asking fellow believers to help and pray for you.

Great post, Sojourner. A lot of Christians forget this very important aspect of "overcoming" sin in their walk with Christ.

[grampster]

Hey Grampster,

Thanks for the input.

Temptation is where we have a soft spot for something. All I was trying to say is, we need to change the way we think about it, and resistance builds up a callus to it. And then there are things we can do that help us with that.

It's not a complicated thing. It's just something that needs doing. And in a lot of sermon's I've heard the position the pastor/preacher takes is, it's just something we have to live with, like a defeated life. Makes me wonder about them, if that is their belief, if they aren't living a defeated life.

I'm not advocating that we can walk in this world in a sinless life. If that were the case we don't need Jesus. What I am saying is we can over come. And in most cases it's a lot of hard work. A lot of falling, and getting back up, but it can be done. Then once we have achieved victory, we can't let our guard down, and become complacent.

Having firewood isn't a complicated thing. Cut tree, split wood, burn. It's just something that needs doing, and it's hard work, but the heat in the winter, or for the cook stove, is well worth it. Try doing that with your phone LOL.

Thanks for you comment above. I have found it helpful and I agree.

[Look4Truth]

Aaron Budjen - You Are Sanctified - Part 1

Aaron Budjen - You Are Sanctified - Part 2

[Look4Truth]

Aaron Budjen - Overcoming Sin - Part 1

Aaron Budjen - Overcoming Sin - Part 2

Aaron Budjen - Overcoming Sin - Part 3

Aaron Budjen - Overcoming Sin - Part 4

Aaron Budjen - Overcoming Sin - Part 5

Aaron Budjen - Overcoming Sin - Part 6