Temptation: The Devil’s Favorite Trick

Did you know that temptation is one of the biggest battles of spiritual warfare? How can we avoid temptations? What should we do when we give in to temptation? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle discuss these questions and outline practical solutions for resisting temptation and repenting from temptation.

Snippet from the Show
We don't have to completely abandon society. We have the power of the Holy Spirit to challenge these things.

1 John 1:5-10: “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth; but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

How to resist temptation:

• Arrow prayers: short prayers that can be memorized and used to deflect temptations when they arise.
• Call out the sin: it’s easier to fight sin when it is named, and the devil flees from this.
• Pray for the opposite virtue: it’s easier to practice virtue than simply cut out vice. Make sure you have a virtue to fill the void.
• Do something else: you can use redirection and distraction to your benefit, whenever possible. Mike and Dave say to get up and do something else.
• Avoid the near occasion of sin: don’t put yourself in situations where you know that you’ll have to actively resist temptation.

What to do when you give in to temptation:

• Have recourse to God’s mercy: know that we all sin, and God has infinite mercy, do not fall to despair!
• Have real contrition: truly repent of your sin with the intention to sin no more.
• Repent right away: don’t wait for Confession! Too often, we fall into the trap of sinning once and then sinning more. Immediately ask for forgiveness, plan for Confession, and stop the sin now!