Several years ago, I was part of a group of women who met each week.  The purpose of the group was accountability to eat healthy and exercise regularly.  As we met each week, we would share how the week had gone. 

Each week our leader “Paula” would ask how we did, and we would go around the room and share our week. After all of us had finished, Paula would speak about her week.  It was as if Paula had a script because each week, she would say the same thing.  “I ate a whole bag of potato chips at one sitting and did not exercise at all.  I ate a whole box of cookies. I did not walk even one block.”

We all tried to encourage Paula to not give in to temptation and to walk just one block during the week. Just start with one block.  Yet, each week Paula’s statement would be the same. 

Several weeks into our group, Paula added to her usual script.  Paula said, “I do not want to be deprived by not having treats in my house.  I want the Holy Spirit to keep me from eating more than four or five chips at a time.” 

During that discussion, I gently asked, “Is it possible that the Holy Spirit is telling you to keep temptations out of your house?” 

What we allow in our house can cause us to never be victorious.

As God’s people, we will always be faced with temptation.  Be very sure that you do not deliberately place yourself in a position to be tempted.  My strongest temptations are probably different from yours. To one, too much alcohol may be the temptation; to another, it may be impure thoughts and acts; to another, greed; to another, criticism and an unloving attitude.  The sooner we get it out of our house, the better we will become at walking in victory.

Ask yourself, “In what area am I tempted most to transgress against God?”  Prepare now to overcome the temptation that will arise again and again. Here are a few suggestions to help us not continually be upended by temptation.

1. Keep a vibrant spiritual life.  Spend a few minutes in the Word of God before starting the day.  Talk to God and ask for his strength to live victorious that dtay.  Sing songs to Him throughout the day.  Stay alive spiritually!
2. Cry out to God immediately! “Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” – Psalm 50:15
3. Flee! “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” – 1 Timothy 6:11.  I have kiddingly said that to overcome temptation one needs a twelve-step program.  When you encounter something that God doesn’t want for your life, turn, and walk twelve steps the other way, and twelve more, and twelve more.  The Bible tells us to flee temptation.
4. Have at least two trusted accountability partners.  I have two people that I can tell when I am facing temptation.  Partners should be trustworthy.  “He who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered” – Proverbs 11:13. Accountability partners need to be able to tell one another intimate details about their struggles with sin. Don’t be so foolish as to think, “It won’t happen to me.”  Prepare for it not to happen by talking to God and another strong believer. 
5. Develop a plan to make no provision for the flesh. “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” – Romans 13:14. Plan now how to overcome tempting situations that you might face. What is my plan to control my temper?  What is my plan to stay faithful to my marriage?  How will I overcome envy?

God called us to live higher than the earthly realm. There is a high cost for low living. You will never regret resisting sin. Know yourself and know your temptations. You are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. Remember the words of Christ to His disciples in the garden on the night of His betrayal: “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” – Matthew 26:41