Spiritual Ways to Fight Temptation

Jesus Faced Temptation Too

Each of us faces temptations that can lead us into sin. This is nothing new or unique. Whether it is one of the seven deadly sins (pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, anger, sloth) or something else, we will all face temptations in our lives. Even Jesus faced temptation. In Luke 4:1-13, we see that Jesus was tempted by Satan.

If we go back to Genesis 3, Satan tempted Adam and Eve by asking, “Did God really say?” In Luke 4:1-13, Satan is basically saying the same thing. Satan twists God’s Word, taking verses out of context. However, Jesus responds with Scripture. He says, “It is written.” In order for this to happen, Jesus had to know Scripture. Some may say, “Well, that’s Jesus, of course, He knows Scripture.” Exactly. If we are to be followers of Him and grow in our Christlikeness, shouldn’t we, too, know Scripture when we face temptation?

Whether our temptation comes from things of this world or from our own sinful desires, we can look to God, His Word, and other believers to help us fight the battle.

Scripture Memory

In order to fight temptation with Scripture in the same manner Jesus did, we must first know Scripture. That means we must devote ourselves to memorizing verses or passages of Scripture when temptation arises. This Scripture may be generic—something that comforts you and reminds you that you are not alone. An example of this would be 1 Corinthians 10:13, which says, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV).

Or, you might commit to memorizing certain verses or passages of Scripture for different temptations you deal with. For example, if you struggle with anger, some good verses for you to remember might be James 1:19-20. Or, if you struggle with lust, a good verse to remember might be Job 31:1.

Whether a generic or specific Scripture, Jesus fought temptation with Scripture. We, too, can commit to memorizing Scripture for times when we face temptation.

Scripture Intake

Though Scripture memory is a great way to fight temptation and is how Jesus fought it, another way to fight temptation is by opening up to Scripture. This may be done to give you peace in the midst of the situation. Hebrews 4:14-16 is a great example. “¹⁴ Since then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16). This is a comforting passage when facing temptation because it shows Jesus was tempted in every way we are, yet without sin. He knows temptation to the fullest because He is the only one who has never fallen into sin. Because of who He is, our great high priest, we can draw near to God in our time of need, in our temptation, to receive mercy and find help through His grace.

Whether it is this passage or another passage, you can turn to God’s Word to find comfort during temptation. Or perhaps you want to turn to a verse or passage that is about a specific temptation. For example, 1 Timothy 6:6-10 may be a passage to read when you are facing greed so that you can fight against the temptation.

Praying Scripture

Another way you can fight temptation is by turning your Scripture memory into a prayer. This might look like quoting your verse or passage, and then saying a prayer based on the truth it teaches. For example, let’s say we took 1 Corinthians 10:13 and turned it into a prayer. That might look something like this:

“Lord, you know the temptation that I face. Though it may seem like I am all alone in this, this is something I do not have to face alone. Allow this temptation not overtake me. You are faithful, Lord, steadfast in all Your ways. You will not let me be tempted beyond what I can take. So Lord, allow me to be strong in this fight. Allow your Spirit to give me strength, clarity, and determination to overcome this temptation. Lord, it is You who provides the way out; allow me to depend on You in this time of need. Allow me to endure and overcome this temptation so that I can grow in my love for You and become more like Christ. Amen.”

Praying Intentionally

Perhaps another way you can fight temptation is by praying intentionally. When temptation arises, this may look like immediately going to the Lord in prayer, telling God what is on your mind and what you are struggling with, and asking Him to give you the strength to overcome the temptation. This does not have to be a set prayer, nor does it have to be for a set time. This prayer might look like one minute, or it might look like fifteen minutes, whatever allows you to focus on the Lord rather than the temptation.

Fasting

Fasting is another way to fight temptation. This looks like voluntarily abstaining from food for a certain period of time. Fasting can often lead to a deeper dependence on God and says to the flesh, “You are not in control of me” when facing temptation. If you have never fasted before, perhaps the best way is to start off slow. Instead of eating three meals a day, you might intentionally fast, skipping one meal. If you have fasted before, consider longer periods of fasting, whether from sunrise to sunset or even a full day. However long the fast is, the goal should be clear: to fight temptation and seek the Lord.

Confession

Another way to fight temptation is by confessing your struggles to fellow believers you are close to. Though this temptation may be hard to confess to others, this is a great way to show that we are not perfect and need help in our walk with the Lord as we walk with others around us. From this, these fellow believers can pray for you and help keep you accountable when temptation arises.