Overcoming Lust to Walk in RighteousnessSmakprov

How do you guard against the lust of the flesh? Here are 4 ways that you can start doing that today.

1. Admit your Weakness. You must first realize that there is no sin you are exempt from committing. In fact, temptation of any kind can come to anyone. To say you “would never” do that or engage in this sin is both proud and dangerous. Admit that you are not strong enough to refrain from all things and realize you need to guard yourself against temptation in all areas of your life.
2. Know your why. We touched on this already but it’s one of the most important things you should be doing.
3. Pray and read the Word. Prayer gave Jesus strength as he often pulled away and he fought temptation with the Word of God. So if this is how Jesus approached temptation then shouldn’t we? Be committed to the Word and prayer as a daily habit.
4. Have solid community. “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” We’ve all heard that, haven't we? But it’s also true, isn’t it? Having friends that have the same commitment will go a long way when committed to righteous living.
5. Protect the heart and mind. What comes in will stew and eventually come out. Guard what you take in via the media, entertainment, reading, and in conversation.
6. Have amazing boundaries. The question I get a lot when I talk about sex, or really any life struggle is this: how far is too far? How far can I go before it’s technically sin? That’s the wrong question. The one people should be asking is, how far can I stay away? If you don’t have strong boundaries then you will begin to make little compromises. And once anyone starts making compromises, even little ones, it gets easier to make the big compromises. We know the Bible isn’t about stealing our fun and joy, but to protect us. If you choose to see His boundaries around sex as a bunch of don’ts that steal your fun, you get God all wrong.

Remember, these guidelines are not limitations to steal away your freedom. Instead, these boundaries and guidelines give you the freedom to live purposefully in your God-ordained call without spot or blemish. To empower you to live righteously for His Kingdom. It’s freedom from sin that will mean life or death.