Resisting Temptation: What to Do When the Wrong Thought Comes to Your Mind

Temptation is a Greek word “peirasmos” which means a pressure applied to your thinking designed to create wrong emotions which will eventually lead to wrong actions.

Being born-again will never stop you from being tempted, but remember: The Bible teaches us that anytime we are tested, God has already opened an escape route for us (1 Cor 1:13).

When the wrong thought comes to your mind, you must:

1. Remember you are a new creation

God always wants us to remember that we are new creation and He has given us a new life. It can be likened to the renewing of one’s mind. This thought comes to you as an outside force, a form of temptation from the devil. You are not the one that produces them in your mind, especially now that you’re born again.^[1] The Bible says we (born-again believers) have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16). You remember who you are now: a new creation! This new life is what you must believe in.

2. Walk in obedience

You see, being born-again does not mean that wrong thoughts will not come to your mind but the point is you should not allow them to take hold of you. You refuse them. “Resist the devil and they will flee from you” (James 4:7). Someone rightly said, “You can’t stop a bird from flying over your head, but you can stop them from building a nest on your head.”

Let us now assume the thought of bad habits comes to you. The pressure is so much on you to perform that wrong thing; you might even go as far as the beginning stages of the wrong deed. But right there, when you remember that you are born-again, a new person, you suddenly have the courage and boldness to shrug it off.

You may not be able to stop these thoughts from coming to you because they are made up of outside forces,^[1] but you can stop them from lodging or staying in your mind. Don’t let these thoughts take dominion over you, or govern your soul, because it will hinder your body from receiving from the Spirit. You can rightly stop them by following this verse:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are right, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever are holy, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Phil 4:8)

Never let these bad thoughts fill your soul. You should know that any thought apart from those listed above are of the devil. You should resist them.

Before you were reconciled unto God, remember that you were living a life which was outside the purpose of God, and it pleased Satan. Now that you are in the Righteousness of God, look at how the devil will strive hard to get you back. Now that you are born again, you are living a new life, so the other life you were living before will try to come back to you. When it comes, you must confess that, “I am born-again.” That’s why the Bible says, “Hold fast your confession.” No matter the habit, you will remember this! Stop! I am born again! Stop right there!

Don’t let the cycle of these thoughts go on. Don’t be ashamed to tell anyone involved in this with you, “Oh, I’m sorry. I can’t do this because I am born-again.” Get rid of bad habits and replace them with good ones. Do this deliberately. Seek out godly character traits from the Word of God and train yourself to act in them.

3. Be a doer; always act the Word!

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any man hears the word, and is not acting on that word, he is like unto a man looking at his natural face in a glass, For he looked at himself, and go on his way, and straightway he has forgotten what manner of man he was. (Jam 1:22-24)

God does not want us to be hearers of the Word only, but doers, walking according to the Word of God. God wants us to remember His word. And we will. That’s one of the things the Holy Spirit does in us. Jesus has said it already that, “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you and everything you have read about me.” (Jhn 14:26)

Thank God, the Holy Spirit is right here; He helps us remember the Word. By the time you remember, you must act on it. Don’t be troubled or anxious about what to remember; the Holy Spirit will remind you. But you must be ready to obey Him when He brings the truths to your mind.

Note: Whatsoever you read, that’s what Holy Spirit will bring to your remembrance, so you have to know, read and understand the Word of God.

4. Remember: Sin has no dominion over you

Once you are born again, sin and curses have no dominion over you. If you read my last post on the forgiveness of sin, you know that you are no more a sinner. God has delivered you from the power of sin and darkness and has delivered you into His Kingdom.

Giving thanks unto the Father, which has made us to be partakers of His properties, His inheritance, of the saints in light, Who hath delivered us, save us, take over, from the power of darkness, and hath translated, brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son. (Col 1:12-13)

You must remember one thing; wrong thoughts no longer have power to gain mastery over you, unless you allow for them.

“For sin will never, never have dominion or power over you or take over your life…” (Rom 6:14) Sin will not have lordship over you. It will not govern your life because you are not under the law again, but you are under the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s what the Bible says about you.

You are in the Kingdom of His dear Son, now that you are born again, and that’s why the power of darkness will never have dominion over you.

Only in Christ Jesus do we have the redemption of sin. Anything outside Him is fake and from the power of darkness. It is not that we are trying to have it; we have it! We must regain this consciousness of the Word of God and rejoice in it.

An evangelist, working as the CEO of Livelihood, the author likes telling people about the Word of God, wishing to teach and set people free bondage of doctrines and bringing them into the light. Livelihood.com.ng is a Nigerian blog entrusted to bring all events happening and facts to your ears including poetry updates and inspirational stories.

^[1] Editor’s note: The enemy gets too much credit here. While it’s true not all thoughts you experience are yours—some may be from the Holy Spirit and some may be from the enemy—it’s incorrect to attribute all sinful thinking to the enemy. Through the born-again experience, the spirit is indeed made new in Christ, however the soulish nature (mind, will and emotions) often undergoes a slower sanctification process. This tension between spirit and flesh is what Paul refers to in Romans 7, which is victoriously encased between chapters 6 and 8.

In spite of this simple doctrinal difference, this contributed article was approved because its core message is to take captive every thought and to stay rooted in Kingdom identity when faced with temptation.