If we are totally prepared for temptation, we will overcome it. I have set up boundaries to block myself from temptation. Proverbs 4:23: “See the evil, and hide yourself.”
A fantastic verse. See temptation for what it is, “See the evil.” See temptation as your light disappearing and your depression entering.
People who have been clean for 6 months have developed expertise at hiding themselves from temptation.
I stay totally prepared in prayer for temptation that pops up. I have developed habits of exactly what I will do when temptation pops up.
Matthew 26:41 ESV
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
To “hide yourself from evil” consider having a go-to prayer that you can pray constantly. Here are 3 examples:
For lust: “Father, help me to turn from lust.”
For gambling: “Father, help me to replace thoughts of gambling with praying about doing Your will.”
“For drinking: “Lead me not into temptation, I know that you will comfort and strengthen me.”
You can write your own short prayer. You can take any prayer from this site and make it your go-to prayer.
Second, I wrote and picked a prayer that trained me to do new, better things when temptation started.
Third, pick a few candidates for your go-to prayer. Then spend 10-20 minutes praying about which one is the perfect one.
Fourth, I prayed my “go-to” prayer tens of thousands of times. I still pray it constantly. I still pray it constantly when I think temptation is about to ramp up.
Fifth, what boundaries can you set to keep yourself from temptation? When, and how can you hide yourself from temptation? How will you remind yourself to pray your “go-to” prayer constantly?
One year I wrote rfs constantly. RFS is code for run from sin. I had rfs written on every paper on my desk. Soon, I prayed about running from sin often, because I wrote it so often.
Finally, write out or put in your phone:
Proverbs 4:23: “See the evil, and hide yourself.”
Praying our “go-to” prayer helps us see the evil early. When we see it early, we can prepare better to hide ourselves.
See the evil, hide yourself, and start toward joy.
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