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**EDWARD D. ANDREWS** (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 200+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).

As a young person, you may find yourself facing temptations that can be difficult to resist. Whether it is the pressure to conform to your peers’ expectations or the allure of engaging in activities that go against your values, resisting temptation can be challenging. However, with self-discipline, guidance from the Bible, and practical steps, you can learn to resist temptation and make wise choices that align with your values and beliefs. In this article, we will explore some advice on how young people can resist temptation.

Know Your Weaknesses

The first step in resisting temptation is to identify your weaknesses. Everyone has areas where they are more vulnerable to temptation, and knowing yours can help you anticipate potential pitfalls and take proactive measures to avoid them. Take some time to reflect on the areas where you tend to struggle the most, and be honest with yourself about your weaknesses.

Anticipate Temptation

Once you have identified your weaknesses, it is important to anticipate potential temptations. Think about situations where you are likely to face temptation and mentally rehearse how you will resist if such temptation occurs. By anticipating potential temptations, you can feel more prepared and confident when you are faced with them.

Strengthen Your Convictions

Having strong convictions about what is right and wrong can help you resist temptation. The Bible provides a solid foundation for building strong convictions. For example, in Genesis 39:9, Joseph demonstrates his strong convictions when he asks, “How could I commit this great badness and actually sin against God?” Take some time to study the Bible and reflect on its teachings. Build your convictions around its principles and make them a part of your daily life.

Find Supportive Friends

The people you spend time with can have a significant impact on your behavior and attitude. By choosing friends who share your moral convictions, you can remove much temptation from your life. The Bible says, “The one walking with the wise will become wise” (Proverbs 13:20). Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who share your values and beliefs. Find a community of support that can encourage and hold you accountable as you resist temptation.

Avoid Tempting Situations

Avoiding circumstances that make it harder to resist temptation is a practical step you can take to increase your chances of success. For example, if you struggle with sexual temptation, avoid being alone with someone of the opposite sex. If you find yourself tempted by pornography, avoid using the internet at times or places that could make it tempting for you to view it.

Pray for Help

Prayer is a powerful tool that can help you stay focused on God’s will and resist temptation. Jesus advised his disciples to pray continually so that they would not enter into temptation (Matthew 26:41). Take time to pray regularly, asking God to give you the wisdom and strength you need to resist temptation and make wise choices.

In conclusion, resisting temptation requires self-discipline, guidance from the Bible, and practical steps. By knowing your weaknesses, anticipating potential temptations, building strong convictions, finding supportive friends, avoiding tempting situations, and praying for help, you can increase your chances of success. Remember that resisting temptation is an ongoing battle, but with God’s help and your own determination, you can stay true to your values and beliefs.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY

Overcoming Temptation

Many individuals, including mature adults, struggle with the temptation. As a teenager, you may find yourself facing difficult choices that can lead you astray. For example, you may be attracted to someone who is not a suitable partner, or you may be tempted to engage in behavior that goes against your values.

It is essential to understand that resisting temptation is a continuous battle that requires self-discipline and determination. Even the apostle Paul, who was an influential figure in Christianity, admitted that he faced a constant internal conflict between the law of God and the law of sin within him. Despite this challenge, Paul resisted the urge to give in to temptation.

As a young person, you may feel pressured to conform to the expectations of your peers or engage in activities that seem enticing at the moment. However, yielding to temptation can lead to negative consequences that can affect your life in the long term. Therefore, it is crucial to learn how to resist temptation and make wise choices.

The Bible offers guidance on how to overcome temptation. One example is found in 1 Corinthians 10:13, which states that God provides a way out of every temptation so that you can endure it. Additionally, James 1:12 assures us that those who endure temptation will receive a reward from God.

Learning to resist temptation now will not only help you avoid making mistakes that can affect your future, but it will also help you develop essential skills that you will need as an adult. By choosing to follow God’s laws and principles and relying on His strength, you can overcome temptation and live a fulfilling life.

The media has a significant impact on our lives, and it often promotes behaviors and attitudes that can be detrimental to our well-being. As young people, you are particularly vulnerable to this influence, as you may be exposed to movies, TV shows, music, and books that glorify behaviors that go against your values.

The Bible acknowledges that youthful desires can be strong, but it also teaches that you have the power to resist temptation. (2 Timothy 2:22) However, the media can intensify these desires by creating an impression that surrendering to temptation is acceptable. For instance, movies and TV shows often depict characters who engage in sexual activity outside of marriage, portraying it as normal and acceptable behavior.

As young men and women of faith, it is essential to remember that real strength comes from abstaining from fleshly desires. (1 Peter 2:11) This means that you can choose to resist temptation and make choices that align with your values and beliefs.

So, how can you resist the influence of media on temptation? One way is to be mindful of what you choose to watch, listen to, and read. Look for media that reinforces positive values and encourages self-discipline and self-control. Another way is to surround yourself with like-minded individuals who share your beliefs and values. Finally, rely on God’s strength and guidance to help you overcome temptation and make wise choices.

How to Resist Temptation

Resisting temptation is an ongoing battle that requires intentional effort and self-discipline. To increase your chances of success, there are practical steps that you can take to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally.

First, it is essential to understand your weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Just as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, your resolve to do what is right is most likely to break in the areas where you are most susceptible. Identify the areas where you struggle the most and take proactive measures to avoid them. (James 1:14)

Next, anticipate potential temptations and mentally rehearse how you will resist them. This can help you feel more confident and prepared when you are faced with temptation. (Proverbs 22:3)

It is also important to strengthen your convictions and values. Joseph, a biblical figure who was tempted to engage in sexual immorality, demonstrated this when he asked, “How could I commit this great badness and actually sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9) Having strong convictions about what is right and wrong can help you resist temptation and make wise choices.

Finally, surround yourself with supportive friends who share your moral convictions. The people you spend time with can have a significant impact on your behavior and attitude. Choose friends who will encourage and support you in making positive choices. (Proverbs 13:20)

In conclusion, resisting temptation requires intentional effort and self-discipline, but by knowing your weaknesses, anticipating potential temptations, strengthening your convictions, and finding supportive friends, you can increase your chances of success. Remember, you have the power to resist temptation and make choices that align with your values and beliefs.

Tips for Resisting Temptation

Resisting temptation can be challenging, but there are practical steps that you can take to make it easier. One of the most effective ways to resist temptation is to avoid circumstances that make it harder to resist. For example, do not allow yourself to be alone with someone of the opposite sex, stay away from people who make wrongdoing look attractive, and avoid using the internet in a way or at a time that could make it tempting to view pornography. (2 Timothy 2:22)

In addition to avoiding tempting situations, it is important to pray for help. Jesus advised his disciples to pray continually so that they would not enter into temptation. (Matthew 26:41) God wants you to resist temptation and is willing to help you do so. The Bible says that he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, and he will provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Prayer is a powerful tool that can help you stay focused on God’s will and resist temptation. It can provide you with strength, courage, and clarity of mind when facing difficult situations. Therefore, make it a habit to pray regularly, asking God to give you the wisdom and strength you need to resist temptation and make wise choices.

In conclusion, resisting temptation requires intentional effort, but by avoiding circumstances that make it harder to resist, and praying for help, you can increase your chances of success. Remember that God wants you to resist temptation and is willing to help you do so. With His guidance and your own determination, you can stay true to your values and beliefs, even in the face of temptation.

These are key scriptures that provide guidance on how to resist temptation.

James 1:14 says, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” This scripture highlights the fact that temptation often arises from our own desires and the things that we find appealing. To resist temptation, we must acknowledge our weaknesses and take proactive measures to avoid situations that can lead us astray.

Proverbs 22:3 states, “The shrewd one sees the danger and conceals himself, but the inexperienced keep right on going and suffer the consequences.” This scripture emphasizes the importance of being aware of potential dangers and taking steps to protect ourselves. By anticipating temptation and mentally rehearsing how we will resist it, we can increase our chances of success.

Finally, 2 Timothy 2:22 advises, “Flee from youthful desires, but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” This scripture encourages us to surround ourselves with supportive friends who share our values and beliefs. By choosing to spend time with people who encourage and support us, we can remove much temptation from our lives and stay true to our convictions.

Taken together, these key scriptures provide practical guidance on how to resist temptation. By acknowledging our weaknesses, anticipating potential dangers, and surrounding ourselves with supportive friends, we can increase our chances of success and stay true to our values and beliefs.