How to Avoid the Temptation of Sin

Avoid situations and people that are likely to lead you to sin. Certain people, places, and situations can make you more likely to commit a crime. There are sins that are impossible to commit without a certain tool, setting, or person. Make sure to stay away from things that lead you to sin. If you’re addicted to drugs, stay away from areas of the city where drugs are sold. If you hang out with friends who make you go crazy, don’t hang out with them. By staying away from triggers, you’re reducing your chances of making a mistake and giving yourself less chance of tripping.

• It is often a good idea to help others overcome their sins. However, if you yourself are struggling with your own temptations, then contacting them will make the situation more difficult. Wait until you are in control of yourself and then think about helping others.
• Reduce the source of temptation in the home. For example, throw all your existing pornography away.
• In some cases, you may need to eliminate other distractions in your home. For example, cut ties with your roommate if they frequently pull you away from the responsibilities you carry.

Call for help. There is no shame in having to rely on others. If you find it difficult to resist temptation, don’t hesitate to reach out to a trusted priest, leader/scholar, missionary, pastor, counselor or friend. Accepting help is a strong, sensible act, and part of the purpose of these people when you are with you is to help you through a difficult time.

• Some temptations (like watching pornography) are not necessarily socially sinful behaviors, even though they are. If you need help to overcome such temptations, you will need to find a priest, missionary, leader, etc., rather than a lay person.

Make yourself busy. Grandparents have a saying “Immortal living is unwholesome”. If you’re busy with good deeds, virtues, or healthy hobbies, you’ll have less time to wander and less likely to be tempted into a moment of boredom. For example, dedicate yourself to work, study by working overtime, or sign up for tutoring. Spend some time learning a new instrument or language. If you have so much free time, do whatever you can to fill it up and bring yourself closer to God, or make you healthier, richer, or better.

• If you can’t think of anything else you can do to fill the empty space, a good place to start is at a shelter, relief center or outreach center. Talk to a manager – there’s a chance they’ll use your unique talents to help those less fortunate in the community.

Be persistent. Unfortunately, temptations aren’t so easy to leave just because you choose to reject them. The temptation is still there. Sometimes, the moment you soberly resist temptation is when the temptation becomes stronger than ever. For example, if you decide to resist a chocolate craving, then 1-2 days later the craving will be stronger. It will take a while for the temptation to cool down – but there are also things that can never be forgotten. This doesn’t mean you should give up! This is a fierce battle. Don’t give up, no matter how many times you set back or re-offend. The more persistently you fight, the better your chances of overcoming temptation.

• Never reward yourself with “rests” or “rewards” of guilt. Don’t get bogged down in instant gratification. It is an afternoon dream that covers your eyes, tricking your feeling that there is nothing wrong with this, even under the scrutiny of God.
• Treat temptation like a bad habit that you need to break. Move toward forming “good” habits that replace old ones, by repeating good, virtuous behaviors.

Accepting temptation is hard to avoid. Know that, no matter how hard you try, a life without temptation is impossible. We will always, at some point, feel tempted – whether it’s something as innocent as making up excuses for being late or as serious as wanting to punch someone who insults you. It is also hard to avoid that at some point, we will give in to this urge. However , with effort, we can reduce the power of temptation. The battle against temptation will last a lifetime – be prepared to celebrate your victories and learn from your failures.

Don’t be discouraged by your own imperfections. Don’t fall into the trap of self-humiliation. We are not pathetic or obnoxious just because we have fallen. God will always forgive. Do not torture yourself, no matter how many times you fall into temptation. ^[6] Use your time more wisely by sincerely praying for God’s forgiveness and overcoming your mistakes.

• “Say: ‘My servants! Those who have transgressed their souls, let not despair of Allah’s Mercy. Surely Allah will forgive all sins. Indeed, He is the One. The Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.'” (Qur’an 39:53) ^[7]

Study the scriptures. The Bible is full of stories, teachings, and maxims we can draw upon whenever we need to turn away from the temptations of sin. The nature of sin and temptation is a topic of discussion throughout the Bible – flip through passages like Romans 7:18 for a clearer view of the agony of resisting temptation: “Indeed, I know that there is no good in me—meaning that in my mortal and sinful body there is no such thing as good. I want to do what is right, but I don’t.”

• Many of the idols revered in the Bible have also struggled against temptation (and often failed). Adam and Eve committed their first sin by eating the forbidden fruit. King David, one of the most important figures in the Bible, also succumbed to temptation when he killed a soldier to steal his wife. Reading the Bible will help you understand that even great men and women struggled—and overcame—their temptations.

Remember to put your trust in God even when you are led away. Overcoming a certain dirty temptation is very difficult. They can easily cause us to lose hope and even begin to believe that we have been abandoned by God. But nothing beats the truth. Thoughts like “Life is so difficult, God must hate me” are completely false and toxic. Every time you were led, God tried to pull you back there. God always wants you to succeed. He wants nothing more than for you to overcome temptation. So, when God poses a challenge, don’t lose faith in Him. Instead, stretch yourself through the challenges He presents.