Even the most devoutly spiritual people among us face temptation. But temptation is not just something to be feared - it can be an opportunity to become stronger if we know how to handle it. In this episode, Donald gives you five tips for overcoming temptation so that you can feel prepared and empowered when you find yourself in a compromising situation, and avoid sin.
Pray. When you feel that temptation coming on, ask for guidance and strength to be able to withstand it. You may feel like you aren’t able to handle the temptations you face alone, so call on God first and foremost.
Make the decision before a situation occurs. If you know you might enter a situation where temptation will be present, know how you will handle it before that situation begins. If you make that decision in advance, it’s much easier to stick to it than if you just try to face it in the moment.
Sing a hymn. If you’re starting to feel tempted to sin, one way to gain back your spiritual strength is to sing. Choose a favorite hymn, whether it’s one from childhood or something you still sing today.
Manage your thoughts. Adjust your thought patterns before they lead to actions. Notice where your thoughts go when they wander, or when you are put into unpleasant situations. When you catch yourself having those thoughts, make a decision to remove them. Stop sinful thoughts in their tracks.
Call someone, or go do something. If you have a strong desire to do something that goes against your beliefs, reach out to someone supportive. You don’t necessarily need to tell them exactly what is going on, but just reaching out to an ally can put you back into a better, safer headspace.
“No matter who you are, no matter what background you come from, no matter how spiritual or how righteous you feel you are, everyone receives temptation.” - Donald Kelly
If you know someone else who struggles with temptation (and we all do), consider sending them this episode and subscribing to this podcast. If you liked what you heard, leave us a rating or review on iTunes. If you need someone to talk to and you’d like to reach out to Donald, e-mail donaldckelly09@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter or Instagram.