Combat Temptations

An anonymous writer said, "Opportunity knocks only once, but temptation leans on the door bell." Temptations are those inner cravings to do something that we shouldn't do. It is a combination of our emotions, behaviors, and desires, conflicting with our overarching goals and values. We are not weak or bad because we face temptations; they are a part of life.  The problem comes when we yield or give-in to our temptations, compromising what we value and believe. I feel that we can be victorious over temptations by implementing a few things.

3 Combats for Temptations

1.     Prepared – We don’t overcome temptations by ignoring them or thinking they won't come. We overcome them by knowing what they look like and having a plan of defense to execute. In the military soldiers repetitively train against the enemy in simulators. The purpose of the simulators is to allow the soldier to practice the plan before they face the real enemy.

Giving in to temptations is your enemy. Being prepared is necessary to overcoming temptations. Know the details of what you are tempted by. Create a game plan to resist. Simulate how you will overcome it in your mind. Execute self control! Develop a plan and be prepared for temptation. It does not have to be your down fall.

2.     Perceptive - Normally temptations don’t just jump out of nowhere. Usually, they creep upon us like a cold looking for a vulnerable spot to get in. If we're not perceptive and prepared, temptations like a cold will fully infected us and take us down. Be on the alert!

Look for little signs at the onset in your mind. When you find yourself saying “It’s not that bad", or "Just this once", or "I’m not going all the way". These are "bait statements" that can draw you further from your goals. Remember, yielding to  temptations can take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and can cost you more than you want to pay. Be perceptive! Overcome approaching temptations by perceiving their long term effects in the present.

3.   Pass-by (Avoid) - Tim Daniels, states that, “an effective way to overcome some temptations is not to fight but to avoid." Temptations can get stronger the more we try to fight them head on. For example, A man who is tempted by a young woman that's off limits, should not try to figure out how to fight temptation face to face. He probably should just pass-by (avoid) the entire situation. When he knows of her whereabouts, his plan should be to avoid encounters by any means necessary.

Don't be afraid to run away from temptations. Be in charge of you! Don’t allow your temptations to define you and make you think and do things that you don’t want to. Learn to pass-by the things that  destroy your goals.

Summary - Overcoming temptations is imperative for success. Work on being prepared to the best of your ability. Keep your eyes open, be perceptive, and look out for temptations that are out to destroy you. When in doubt about facing a temptation that's optional, go the other way. It's best to miss a little something than to get it all and fail. Combat your temptations!

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