How does one "flee from sin?"

[Cherub]

What does it mean to flee from sin, rather than trying to “fight” it away? How does one do this?

 

[ATeNumquam]

Cherub:

What does it mean to flee from sin, rather than trying to “fight” it away? How does one do this?

Well, this is how I understand it. St John of the Cross gave a bit of advice in one of his “Spiritual Sayings” that I have found to work AS LONG AS I remember to use it!!!
The very instant a tempting thought or image arises in the mind (St John calls it “the first movement of some vice such as lust, anger or a revengeful spirit”), rather than saying “I musn’t think about it, I mustn’t do that” and start focusing on the thing you are tempted to, you turn your mind to God in “an act of love” (St John of the +). You can do this with or without words (it’s helpful initially to make what some call an “arrow prayer”, but more focussed on God than you and your temptation) I like “My Lord and my God”.
Then St John says, your spirit is no longer there where you are, but united with God, so the devil finds you aren’t “at home” so to speak and “finds nowhere to strike” (St John of the +)
Stay focussed on God and don’t start to struggle with the temptation, or you’ll get bogged down in it and more in danger of giving in. If you can succeed in doing it you will find it’s like magic, though you might have to do it over and over on the one occasion. That’s OK!
I stress that I am more often than not a failure in practising this, but when I do I think “how simple! how brilliant!!”
God bless, and I hope this helps a bit.

 

[Pug]

Especially regarding temptations of the flesh, it is a good idea to never place oneself in the way of temptation. If certain situations rountinely tempt you, do not consider a method of standing and resisting so as to build up your strength. Flee these situations. Perhaps problems with humility or pride can sometimes be dealt with otherwise, but most writers say flee if it is about the flesh. This is my understanding of what the writers say.

Also, if a thought arises in your head that is tempting, do not stuggle with it. Don’t argue with the thought. Just ignore it and substitue a healthy thought. Don’t give the tempting thought the time of day. Thoughts about God’s love or the cross are helpful substitues. This works best if the substitution is done calmly without recriminations or fuss and is done promptly. If the thought comes back stronger, just do the substitution again. The devil would love it if you then got all upset about the new thought.

If you fall anyway, just camly tell the priest in confession without a big fuss, do whatever he says to do, and forget about it.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

ATeNumquam:

The very instant a tempting thought or image arises in the mind (St John calls it “the first movement of some vice such as lust, anger or a revengeful spirit”), rather than saying “I musn’t think about it, I mustn’t do that” and start focusing on the thing you are tempted to, you turn your mind to God in “an act of love” (St John of the +). You can do this with or without words (it’s helpful initially to make what some call an “arrow prayer”, but more focussed on God than you and your temptation) I like “My Lord and my God”.

This reminds me of when I moved to Kansas in 1981 and was reading the driver’s handbook to get my license here. It said that if an oncoming car has its brights on, to look away from it.

That was so simple, and yet I had never thought of it, that it seemed brilliant. Until then, when I saw an oncoming car with bright lights on I looked right at it, wondering if/when they would ever dim them, and building up anger. What a destructive mental and optical waste, compared to looking away.

Alan

 

[tom.wineman]

Read the Old Testament account of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife.

 

[RobedWithLight]

By avoiding those things that you know **can **make you sin, and not merely avoiding the sin itself. Thus, entering a theater you knew was showing a pornographic film is not fleeing from sin, but the exact opposite, you are inviting sin to come to you. Hence, while theaters are not in themselves bad, they can sometimes be used as vehicles for sinning.

Gerry

 

[Maccabees]

Read the Old Testament account of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife.

My thoughts exactly as a former protestant I think of this literally run from sin now!