7 PILLARS OF OVERCOMING
TEMPTATIONS AS A YOUTH
Despising
the nice preaching received in the road to one’s salvation from the darkness
into light, the likes of living free. Being or becoming a Christian is not an
easy task, but it is simple, the life you have to live is not common or usual,
it is not like sleeping or walking up; you don’t just dream and live free, you don’t
just guess to live, in fact being a Christian is not an easy task, but always
simple when one is ready to live by the principles of love.
Now,
a Christian life is full of challenges and temptations, we face different kinds
of temptations in our every moment of breathing and living. However, not
everyone is prepared to overcome those temptations. The lust of the flesh is
the number one or mother of all temptations that we find ourselves falling to; submitting
to sin, whether it be gossiping, sex(out of marriage or godly bond), gluttony,
stealing, cheating, as well as other sins. There are easy sins to overcome from
the ones listed, however some are very difficult to cease from or overcome
them. We all know that a temptation is not a sin; it only becomes a sin when
one gives in to it and engages in it.
Jesus
Christ Himself was tempted, yet He didn’t sin. That’s another reason the bible
says that He who was tempted in every way, just as we are, yet He did not sin;
and that because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those
who are being tempted. So temptations are not new today, they always have been
there, and it is not only you who are tempted by the temptation you are facing,
we all are, it just don’t happen at the same time or in the same manner it happens
to you.
There
are many ways to deal and overcome temptations, let’s discuss a few below.
To overcome
temptations you need the following!
1.
Discover
yourself
Every
person has special characteristics that differentiate each and every one of us,
understanding your own self, your strong points and your weaknesses will help
you know the kind of places you have to be, the kind of people to associate with,
the kind of food you eat according to your faith in God. Know where you are
from, the nature of your family (many Christians suffer from blood line
temptations). This will help you ease the chances of being tempted and or avoid
many temptations.
2.
Identifying
your temptations
Just
because your friend or fellow Christian suffers from sex temptations doesn’t mean
that you also are under the same suffering. As I said, we are all different, so
everyone of us must learn and know what temptations are difficult for you to
overcome, knowing exactly which temptations tempts you the most you’ll be able
to arm more against it and therefore you will conquer. Understanding your enemy
helps you discover their/its weaknesses, and therefore using their/its
weaknesses it is easy and simple to overcome
3.
Ask God to give you strength to overcome
A
lot of young people always miss it when they go before God in prayer; you are
always keen to asking God for forgiveness of the same thing or sin every day. Yes
the bible says that we must confess our sins to God and He will forgive us, but
continuously it says that we have to let go of such sins after confessing them.
It is therefore wise to ask God to give you the strength to overcome your
temptations than to ask for forgiveness the whole 365 days of the year
4.
Befriend
the bible with God’s wisdom
Usually
most difficult temptations comes through the word, different people interpret
the bible in a different way, some uses theological knowledge, some uses their
living experience, some uses deceiving spirits, and so on. But the point is, don’t
attempt to interpret the Word of God with people’s experience or your own
understanding, you cannot interpret or reveal God’s knowledge by your poor
physical being or carnal mind. Devil tempted Jesus Christ using the word, so
what would stop him from tempting you using the word also. Have the kind of God’s
wisdom or spirit to guide you discern what is the real truth of a situation by
the Word, Jesus defeated the devil by the very same word he tried tempting Him
with, you can defeat him also
5.
Speak the language of God during temptation
Many
people easily give up in temptation because they are too soft in their
language, the bible says that let your no be no and your yes be yes, that’s the
language of God. If you know that you don’t want to engage in premarital sex
because it’s a sin, then say no to conditions that can cause you to do it, if
you know that have to be faithful to your partner, then say yes to your
relationship and no to the other lustful ones. To avoid and stay away from
temptations you have to be mouthful and strong in your tongue, speak the
language of God.
6.
Set an
example of faithfulness
Sometimes
we think like we are acing it as we lead our Christian life, being prayer
warrior, a great young preacher, miracle performer, an apostle, evangelist,
usher, deacon, worshipper, or anything you can think of. The question will be ‘are
you faithful’ in that aspect, remember 1Timothy 4:12 ‘’do not let anyone look
down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in
speech, in life, in faith, in love and in purity’’. Setting an example of
faithfulness only mean that your life is presentable to everyone, your speech
is well set with humbleness and meekness, you follow after purity and holiness,
you love everyone without pretending, and hence you have the God kind of faith
7.
Accept
godly counsel
The
world is full with zealous young people, anointed and burning with great fire
for the gospel; some it’s because they are just gifted some called and some
just deceived. Allowing godly counsel helps shape your life and gifts, helps
you grow beyond the temptations that are found in the lane of your gift. How many
young people can you point which fell due to pride and disobedience, I hope you
don’t wish to follow them. Proverbs 19:20 “listen to advice and accept
instruction, and in the end you will be wise”. God hate pride; don’t be a
victim of pride’s destruction of many generations, “guide your heart will all
diligence, for out of it are the issues of life” proverbs 4:23
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