I’m Just a Guy: Resisting Temptationنموونە

What You Feed Grows

Temptation found a new battlefield in 2007—and unfortunately, it’s taken many men out of the game.

That was the year the first iPhone hit the world. Suddenly, temptation beyond our wildest imagination lived comfortably in our pockets, with instant access at our fingertips.

I remember my first smartphone and how it immediately pulled me in. I’d grown up watching phones evolve—from bag phones to flip phones to the impressive BlackBerry. But when I held that first smartphone, the dopamine hit that surged through my veins every time a message or email came in was powerful.

Then came the real discovery: unlimited access to anything I wanted to search for. For a twenty-something man, that was a temptation that often felt impossible to control.

I found myself having internal debates, making rationalizations for why certain sites were visited. Before long, I’d begun slipping down the slope of feeding the desires of my flesh.

Looking back now, I can see that temptation was a lot like fire—it grew wherever I chose to fuel it. The problem was, I didn’t feel the heat soon enough to recognize when I’d crossed from curiosity into danger.

The more I fed the flesh, the more it demanded. Each hit of dopamine numbed me a little more, and willpower wasn’t enough to win the fight. Trying to defeat temptation through willpower alone is like trying to fight a lion with a stick.

That’s why the promise in Galatians 5 is so powerful. The Spirit, not willpower, gives us victory.

So how do we “walk by the Spirit”? It’s not a spiritual sprint or some secret formula. It’s simply staying connected to God in real, daily ways—through prayer, time in His Word, and surrounding yourself with godly community.

When I started leaning into those practices, I noticed something shift. The desires of the flesh didn’t disappear, but their grip weakened. The Spirit’s voice grew louder than my temptations.

There’s an old Native American proverb that says:

“Inside every man are two wolves—one good and one evil. The one that wins is the one you feed.”

That’s the challenge. What are you feeding your mind and heart with? Are you consuming things that strengthen your Spirit—or things that starve it?

The honest answer to that question usually reveals why temptation feels so powerful.

It’s impossible to starve temptation if you’re feeding it daily. But when you start feeding your Spirit—through God’s Word, worship, and fellowship—you’ll be amazed at how much stronger your resistance becomes.

Because what you feed grows.
And what you starve dies.

Reflection Questions:

• What are you currently feeding more—your flesh or your Spirit?
• What daily habit could you start (or stop) that would help you walk closer with God?