How can I resist temptation?

[Hoosier1991]

I have been struggling a lot with temptation to sin.

I’m not talking about one specific sin, but just sin in general…lying (big and small lie), sexual sins, bad language, being hurtful to others, etc.

I don’t think I sin all that often, but thats because I rarely find myself tempted to do so. However, when I do face temptation, I almost always give in and commit a sin. My ability to resist temptation is absolutely horrible I hate this about myself.

For example, if I gossip about someone I might not think about it at the time, but after an hour or so I will dwell on it feeling terrible about the things I’ve said…knowing I can’t take them back and that my words have hurt another person.

Another example is lying, this is different because unlike gossip, I can feel the temptation growing. I’ll thinking about the lie I’m about to tell for days (usually to avoid something, an event, or a certain person, etc) and try and try to resist it. Even if its just a “white lie” that doesn’t amount to much in the long run, its still not the truth and I still feel bad. But even after days and nights of begging God to help me resist this temptation, I almost always give in. Then I end up crying, begging for forgiveness, going to confession, and starting the whole process over again.

I realize that temptation is a part of life and that its not going to disappear, and I know I’ll never be perfect, but what are some ways that I can do a little better in overcoming the urge to sin?

Thanks a lot!

 

[Bill_Martin]

Think of resisting temptation like anything else you want to master; you need to practice it. Fasting is a good way to develop self discipline and control. It’s tough and I hate it but it works. Since it involves denying yourself something that you want to do, which is what you need to work on, you will get better at it in all areas of your life the more you exert this control.

It’s beneficial for more practical matters as well. The ability to say no to stuff you want but know you can’t afford is incredibly important when it comes to finances, for example.

 

[Oren]

Well. You should probably start cultivating trust in God. It seems like you’re really blowing things out of proportion in your mind and giving in to discouragement. You should try to meditate all the time about how you can trust God no matter what, even if you sin. You can trust that the reason He doesn’t want you to sin is not arbitrary but because it hurts yourself and others and will never make you happy. Once you can believe that about sin you’ll start getting better at not sinning. You’ll still fail, but that’s to be expected and is nothing to get upset over. Don’t let yourself worry all the time and fret and fear and be discouraged. That isn’t what God wants you to do. Look at all the times Jesus says Don’t worry, don’t be afraid. Listen to Jesus. Put yourself in His hands with calm and a lot of prayer. He will do the work.

 

[Oren]

I agree with Bill about fasting. It does work!

 

[Lisa1967]

Pray. Remember that Jesus faced temptation and did not sin so ask Him for help. Go to daily Mass and receive the Eucharist as often as you can (this has helped me).