After reading yesterday's notes, it may have sounded like it's all cut and dried: recognise when you're tempted, ask for God's help and He'll come through for you. Done and dusted - job's a good 'un! But we all know that beating temptation is nowhere near as simple as that.
Simply repeating, 'I won't go on those websites, I won't go on those websites!' just won't cut it. Before you know it, you're back in a pool of shame eating a big slice of regret. So what do you do? Well, the battleground is your mind. Trying to fight the thought of not doing something just feeds the idea until it grows so big, it's the only thing you can think of. The answer? Replace your thoughts.
Once you focus is on something good, the dross begins to lose its grip. Positively distract yourself, '...Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise' (Philippians 4:8 NLT). This is more than a nice verse in the Bible, it's the key to overcoming temptation. The wisdom of Solomon states: 'Your life is shaped by your thoughts.' Mind management is massive for moving mountains. Yes, it might take time, practice and God's help. However God is all about achieving the impossible.
So what now? What do you spend your free time doing? Allow God to highlight what changes He wants to make in your thought life, and what you can focus on instead.
SoulFood: Micah 1-4, Luke 24:45-53, Ps 51, Pr 22:12-16
The Word For You Today (an adaptation of The Word for Today authored by Bob & Debby Gass) is published under licence by RBG New Zealand. 2011 UCB International Ltd