As long as we are alive we will be in a battle against doing what we know is right and giving in to what we know is wrong.

The fact that you are tempted doesn’t make you bad it just makes you human. This is important because some of us carry guilt around just because we are tempted in the first place. Temptation isn’t bad – but giving into it is. A Bible verse that has helped me for the last 20 years to win many of the battles I face is, 1 Corinthians 10:13. Towards the end of the verse it says that, “When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you may endure.” There is always hope to make a better choice, even if you have been giving in for years. A great goal is not to get to the place where you are never tempted (which is not possible anyway), rather to tame temptation. Here are a few helpful thoughts to tame the temptation in your life.

Satisfaction is not found in the substitute.

There can be times when we think that getting what we want now, and not waiting for God’s best, is good enough. There is always a quick rush to sin. If we’re honest, deep down we know that God’s best is better then the substitute.

Being fully submitted to God is the beginning to winning against temptation.

James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” We get fired up about the part where the devil flees BUT we have to go back to the beginning of the verse to find out HOW that happens. You and I can be pretty good at living a ‘partially submitted to God’ life. We can quote a few verses and can look ‘all spiritual.’ But remember, you will not overcome temptation as long as there is justification. The power to tame temptation comes when you are fully and completely submitted to God. Your desires for God increase and your desire to sin decreases.

You must fight your way out.

I think one of the best strategies to winning against your weaknesses is to be preemptive. That is to have made a predetermined decision before a situation. You have to avoid putting yourself in situations where you might stumble – even a little. So if you are trying to win the purity battle don’t go over to that person’s house. Don’t go to those websites, or watch those movies. If we trace back our steps to our downfall it always comes back to a step in the wrong direction. Make a predetermined decision not to take even one step towards something that doesn’t line up with your predetermined decisions.

Taming temptation will lead you closer to the life you’ve dreamed of.

It will also protect the things you care most about.

Make a decision to win today. Just take it one day at a time and you will be amazed by how often you are winning your battle within and becoming the person you always wanted to be.

One last thing: I have the massive privilege of knowing the founders of NHiM. They are some of the most God-loving, big-dreaming and kind people you will ever meet. It is so exciting to watch this movement take off.

-Pastor Jacob Ouellette, Lead Pastor of Thrive ChurchTaming Temptation

As long as we are alive we will be in a battle against doing what we know is right and giving in to what we know is wrong. The fact that you are tempted doesn’t make you bad it just makes you human. This is important because some of us carry guilt around just because we are tempted in the first place. Temptation isn’t bad – but giving into it is. A Bible verse that has helped me for the last 20 years to win many of the battles I face is, 1 Corinthians 10:13. Towards the end of the verse it says that, “When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you may endure.” There is always hope to make a better choice, even if you have been giving in for years. A great goal is not to get to the place where you are never tempted (which is not possible anyway), rather to tame temptation. Here are a few helpful thoughts to tame the temptation in your life.

Satisfaction is not found in the substitute.
There can be times when we think that getting what we want now, and not waiting for God’s best, is good enough. There is always a quick rush to sin. If we’re honest, deep down we know that God’s best is better then the substitute.

Being fully submitted to God is the beginning to winning against temptation.
James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” We get fired up about the part where the devil flees BUT we have to go back to the beginning of the verse to find out HOW that happens. You and I can be pretty good at living a ‘partially submitted to God’ life. We can quote a few verses and can look ‘all spiritual.’ But remember, you will not overcome temptation as long as there is justification. The power to tame temptation comes when you are fully and completely submitted to God. Your desires for God increase and your desire to sin decreases.

You must fight your way out.
I think one of the best strategies to winning against your weaknesses is to be preemptive. That is to have made a predetermined decision before a situation. You have to avoid putting yourself in situations where you might stumble – even a little. So if you are trying to win the purity battle don’t go over to that person’s house. Don’t go to those websites, or watch those movies. If we trace back our steps to our downfall it always comes back to a step in the wrong direction. Make a predetermined decision not to take even one step towards something that doesn’t line up with your predetermined decisions.

Taming temptation will lead you closer to the life you’ve dreamed of. It will also protect the things you care most about.

Make a decision to win today. Just take it one day at a time and you will be amazed by how often you are winning your battle within and becoming the person you always wanted to be.

One last thing: I have the massive privilege of knowing the founders of NHiM. They are some of the most God-loving, big-dreaming and kind people you will ever meet. It is so exciting to watch this movement take off.

-Pastor Jacob Ouellette, Lead Pastor of Thrive Church