How to Overcome Temptations
This is a real problem the Lord has been helping me with, so I want to share some insight and tools He has provided to help with this battle.
I have a hard time sometimes giving up the desires of my flesh to be a better steward of what God has given me. He has given me good health but sometimes I have a day where I just splurge and eat a bunch of unhealthy food through the day and then I don't feel good and I beat myself up. I know it is gluttony and sinful.
I also know better than to beat myself up about eating a little bit of junk food here and there. I know I should not be overly hard on myself about that and expect total perfectionism in everything I eat, but these day long gluttonous binges are a different story.
Fortunately, I am able to repent after these binges and get back on track, but I would rather just not have those days to begin with. Here is some biblical strategy to help us avoid making this mistake (and other similar ones - like watching pornography or any other obviously sinful act that we are having difficulty stopping).
This is a powerful way to shift from a "rules-based" mindset to an "identity-based" one. By using the Law of Expectation, we aren't just "trying harder" - we are aligning our mind with a spiritual reality that has already been won by Jesus. After all, we can do everything through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13)
Daily Stewardship Self-Examination
1. Identity & Expectations
Have I spoken of my health and healthy habits today as a promise already fulfilled, or have I let my "old name" and past failures dictate my expectations for today?
The Lesson: Just as God changed Abram's name to Abraham ("Father of Nations") right before he had Isaac, we must speak of our health in the present tense. If you call yourself a "glutton" or a "failure," you are subconsciously expecting to fail. By the Law of Expectation, when you identify as a "disciplined steward," your mind begins to look for ways to fulfill that identity.
2. The Miraculous Middle
Am I standing firm in the "Already/Not Yet" tension, expecting God’s strength to bridge the gap between my current cravings and His promised discipline?
The Lesson: We live in the tension where our spirit is redeemed (Already), but our body still craves the "fleshpots of Egypt" (Not Yet). Miracles, like the healing of the epileptic boy in Matthew 17, happen when we refuse to let the "Not Yet" symptoms waver our "Already" faith. Stand firm in the middle, knowing God's power is the bridge.
3. The Second Coming Perspective
If Jesus were to return tomorrow, would I be able to look back and be pleased overall with what I did today, or are there "big things" I would wish I had done differently?
The Lesson: This creates immediate "Kingdom Urgency." It moves stewardship from a matter of "calories and carbs" to a matter of eternal readiness. It asks if your current actions are a worthy offering to the King, helping you distinguish between a minor treat and a "big thing" (like a day of gluttony) that dims your spiritual lamp.
4. The Power of the Cross
Have I been utilizing the fact that Jesus paid for me to nail my passions to His cross, and am I actively trusting that He will take them from me?
The Lesson: Galatians 5:24 says those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. You don't have to "kill" these desires yourself; you literally hand them over to the Cross (to make this really real you can visualize nailing your problem to the cross). This is an active exchange: you provide the "nailing" (the firm decision to stop), and He provides the "taking" (the spiritual weight-lifting).
5. Desire Transformation
Have I been consistently asking Him to supernaturally replace my cravings for "splurging" with a genuine hunger for healthier desires?
The Lesson: We often ask for "strength to resist," but we rarely ask for "different desires." Persistent Faith involves believing that God can actually change what you find appetizing. When you ask Him to make healthy food taste like a blessing and junk food taste like "vanity," you are asking for a heart transplant, not just a diet.
6. The Source of Strength
Have I been keeping my sights on Him and clinging to Him the moment temptations arise, or have I been trying to battle them on my own strength?
The Lesson: The disciples failed because they relied on their own history rather than their current connection to the Source. Clinging to Him means that at the very moment a craving hits, your first move is a "breath prayer" or a scripture, rather than an internal argument with yourself. If you fight in your own strength, you are essentially gambling; if you cling to Him, the victory is guaranteed.
Strategy for Use
Repetition will rewrite your identity. Review these every morning and night before bed and whenever temptation occurs.
