YOU CAN
WIN AGAINST
TEMPTATION
A RESOURCE TO EMPOWER
THE NEXT GENERATION
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
- 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13
STEPS TO VICTORY
Below is a 5 step process that we have named "Steps to Victory". We have seen countless young people take these steps to help win the fight against temptation, instilling a belief in themselves through goal-setting, prayer and discipline that they can win.
Overcoming temptation might seem like an impossible task, but with the help of God, wise accountability partners, and a commitment to the process, you can see the victory you have been believing for.
Scroll through, and begin the journey for yourself.
1. RECOGNISE
The Holy Spirit has been convicting you and you’re ready to walk into freedom. You have arrived at a point where you RECOGNISE that a recurring habit is an issue and it’s something you want to defeat. If you are sick of being stuck, and as a result, are serious in conquering sin and walking in victory, then these steps are for you.
If this is you, then you're ready to go on this journey.
From the outset we want to encourage you that you can win.
2. PRAY
The first aspect to winning the fight against temptation is to involve God in the process. Without God, we can do nothing but with his help You Can Win.
The journey to victory begins with repentance. Take some time to pray to God. Acknowledge to him that you have been stuck in sin and ask him for forgiveness. The prayer could be as simple as:
“Dear God, I’m stuck & I’m tired of this issue (tell God what it is). I bring it to you and repent. I don’t want this to be part of my life. Please help me to find victory in this area. Forgive me for my sin & give me grace & the courage needed to walk into victory. Amen”
Once you have prayed about it the next part of this step is to confess the sin to a trusted Christian. This part is usually the biggest barrier to freedom.
Will you be bold enough to get real about where you are at?
The bible says in James 5:16: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” God didn’t design us to overcome things by ourselves. There are people who have gone before you that can help you win.
When choosing someone to talk to you are effectively choosing an accountability partner. It’s important to select wisely. An accountability partner could be one of the following:
- A Christian Parent.
- A Christian Leader
- A Pastor.
Basically, you’re looking for someone that is further along in the journey than you are that can help you win by praying with you and holding you accountable during your journey. Regardless of the area of temptation it’s always a good idea to have an accountability partner the same gender as you. Guys talking to Guys & Girls talking to Girls.
3. IDENTIFY
The next step in walking in freedom is to spend some time working through the reasons you have found yourself addicted to begin with. Is there emotions you are experiencing that you self-medicate against through an addition. Self-medicating is not always a substance, but it could be an action that soothes you in the moment but leaves you feeling even worse moments after.
What are the emotions that bring you this point? If you can reflect and Identify what these emotions are it will help you to be self-aware of when you are the most vulnerable. In addition to the emotional triggers there may also be gateways that consistently lead you down the wrong path.
What is a gateway? It’s anything that stands as an entry point to sin. Certain things may not be a sin but for you it may lead you to sin. If you can work out what your gateways are you can begin to make the needed adjustments to shut those Gateways down. Examples of some gateways could be as follows:
- Certain music
- Hanging out with specific friends
- Social Media
- Anything that is "late night"
- Having electronic devices in the bedroom
- Messaging certain people late at night
- Shows, movies, streaming services and video apps
- Conflict with people
What are the tangibles for you that trigger temptation and lead to addiction? Social Media, electronic devices or specific locations can be stumbling blocks for overcoming your addiction. When the medium is identified, clear vision on how to attack the addiction follows.
4. REPLACE
One of the direct keys connected to overcoming temptation is replacing a bad habit with a good. What habits can you build, grow in and use to replace an addiction as a means of helping overcome it?
On average, it takes 66 days to form a new habit. For the next 2 months, commit yourself to intentional replacement.
When considering a healthy replacement, it's important to not replace one addiction for another. A healthy replacement looks like an activity or practice that has a positive impact on your emotional, spiritual and physical health. Binge-watching shows, spending copious amounts of time on social media, or gaming until the early hours of the morning may distract you from your addiction - but they do not serve as a healthy replacement.
Some healthy replacements can look like :
- Exercise
- Cleaning Room
- Prayer
- Going for a walk
- Listening to a chapter of the bible on double speed
- 20 mins of worship music
- Make dessert
- 20 push-ups
- Remove devices from the room
We have provided a list of bible verses, that we encourage you to help use as a replacement, to memorise and to utilise in times of need: PRAYER BANK.
It's important that within your replacement, you also seek professional help from Christian counsellors or psychologists. Perhaps you feel like you've bought into a lie that you will never win. Replace that lie with the Truth of the Word of God through reading scriptures, and seeking wise counsel to help reinforce the truth that you can win.
We have provided a list of Christian Counsellors and psychologists across Australia below that you can get into contact with confidentially.
5. REMAIN
An overlooked, yet key aspect within overcoming temptation is the final stage of remaining. From the start of your journey, this can look like an impossible task, but when you take the necessary steps as suggested above and find rhythm in overcoming an addiction or habit, remaining is the consistency with your new, healthy lifestyle choices and keeping accountable with your trusted mentors.
Remaining is recognising that you have overcome an addiction, yet your guard is not down to allow yourself to relapse, entertain temptation, or move back into a space of unhealthy lifestyle choices. Remaining requires discipline, continual transperancy with those you are accountable to - even if it means being as raw and as vulnerable as possible.
This stage never truly ends, but is a continual space of discipline, patience and obedience to the truths you have uncovered in your journey of winning the battle against temptation. To win is to effectively remain in the space of victory.
SO IF THE SON SETS YOU FREE, YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED
- JOHN 8:36
Valiant Man
A 10-week course for men to move from "good intentions" into a life of strength and accountability. This course specifically unpacks sexual temptation, addiction and integrity.
X3 Watch
A subscription service that provides you with resources, tools and accountability to promote online integrity and safe internet use.
Covenant Eyes
An accountability app that monitors phone usage and flags your accountability partner if any suspicious sites are viewed. This app is specifically built for you and an accountability partner to overcome the battle of lust.
QUITTR
An online platform and application that helps users go on the journey of overcoming addiction, registering over 900,000 users having done so with QUITTR.
Resources
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
- Galatians 5:1
Take the pledge
If you want to take the pledge and begin the 'Steps to Victory' - why not start the fight and press the button below?
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Take the pledge
If you want to take the pledge and begin the 'Steps to Victory' - why not start the fight and press the button below?