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Personal Affirmations for Handling Temptations

Here is a set of affirmations that you can use, by the grace of God, as preventive medicine for four major areas of temptation. I developed these affirmations because I sensed the need for a specific way of thinking in areas of habitual temptation and struggle. This is particularly helpful in that split second between temptation and response that mysteriously illuminates the whole dynamic of choosing to walk in the power of the Spirit or in the power of the flesh in the midst of the spiritual warfare. It can be helpful to make use of spiritual exercises and tools that draw us to a biblical pattern of thought in times when the warfare becomes more intense. Just as judo leverages the force of an opponent to one's advantage, so these affirmations can convert the force of temptation into a positive spiritual reminder.

Remember that these are not automatic formulas—they must be part of a divine-human process that involves dependence on God's grace in your life.

Temptation to Anger
1. This is sin. "The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God" (James 1:20). [This is not dealing with anger against sin (cf. Ezekiel 7:3; Mark 3:5), but with sinful anger (Galatians 5:20).]

2. I do not want to sin. Sin is beneath the dignity of the person I have become in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-7).

3. I do not have to sin. I am no longer under the power of sin, but I am alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11; 8:12-14).

4. Then why am I tempted to get angry? Because I have embraced wrong thinking. I have committed myself to unrealistic plans. [I am using "unrealistic plans" in the sense of plans that, for whatever reason, did not come to fruition. For example, I may be committed to the short-term plan of catching a particular flight so that I can get to a meeting on time. If a flat tire blocks this plan, it was "unrealistic"—it was not realized. The problem was not in desiring to get to the meeting on time, but in making my sense of well-being dependent on it. Insofar as depression is anger turned inward, these affirmations are relevant for depression as well.]

5. The correct way to think is to remember that God is in control and has my best interests at heart (Romans 8:28).

6. My response to this truth is first to trust in the Lord and not lean on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). [Since point 5 is true, God must have intentions in this situation that I cannot presently grasp.]

7. Second, I will walk by the Spirit and not carry out the desire of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Temptation to Seek Revenge
1. This is sin. "Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. . . . If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge" (Romans 12:17-19).

2. I do not want to sin. Sin is beneath the dignity of the person I have become in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-7).

3. I do not have to sin. I am no longer under the power of sin, but I am alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11; 8:12-14).

4. Then why am I tempted to seek revenge? Because I want justice. [This may be as trivial as someone cutting me off in traffic or as deep-seated as the unforgiving spirit (and bitterness) of harboring a resentment against another person for years.]

5. But God did not give me justice (what I deserve); He treated me with mercy (not giving me what I deserve) and grace (giving me better than I deserve).

6. Because I have been forgiven, I will forgive others and treat them with mercy and grace (Colossians 3:12-15). [The better I understand God's mercy and grace in my life, the more I will be willing and ready to forgive others when they sin against me.]

7. I will walk by the Spirit and not carry out the desire of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Sexual Temptation
1. There is no future in this. (It would damage my relationship with God and could destroy my relationship with my spouse and children, as well as damage my reputation and discredit my ministry; 1 Corinthians 7:18.)

2. I will not degrade this person but treat her/him with dignity and honor. (I will treat her/him as a subject, not an object, since she/he has been created in the image of God.)

3. I will let the attractiveness direct me to praise for the greatness of her/his Creator. [This is a kind of "spiritual judo" in which you use quick movement and leverage to throw your opponent; in this case, you redirect the incoming force from temptation to praise.]

4. I am no longer under the power of sin, but I am alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11). (I am not a skin-wrapped package of glands, but a new creation in Christ; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

5. I will walk by the Spirit and not carry out the desire of the flesh (Galatians 5:16; 2 Timothy 2:22).

6. I will fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Temptation to Covet
1. This is sin. "You shall not covet" (Exodus 20:17).

2. I do not want to sin. Sin is beneath the dignity of the person I have become in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-7).

3. I do not have to sin. I am no longer under the power of sin, but I am alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11; 8:12-14).

4. Then why am I tempted to covet? Because I am not content with what I have.

5. My lack of contentment stems from comparison with other people. [There will always be people who have better possessions, positions, marriages, children, ministries, etc., than I have. The more I focus on this, the more I can be consumed by jealousy, envy, and resentment.]

6. I will take my eyes off other people's possessions and fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:2).

7. God is in control and has my best interests at heart (Romans 8:28). Therefore, I will be content and thankful with what He gives me.

Since each person has a unique "flesh signature" (people are tempted in differing ways and degrees), you can adapt these affirmation structures to other areas of temptation. It is wise to name honestly and specifically any "besetting sins" you regularly encounter so that you are better prepared to respond to temptations in these areas. Certainly, the time-honored list of the seven deadly sins can be a useful diagnostic tool: pride, envy, anger, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust. Pride, with its self-inflation, debasement of others, personal ambition, presumption, and vanity is the cardinal sin from which the other sins proceed. Thus, the prayerful pursuit of humility is critical to spiritual progress and victory in the warfare with the flesh. Biblically speaking, humility relates to a growing awareness before God that apart from Him, we are nothing and can accomplish nothing of lasting value; all things are "from Him and through Him and to Him" (Romans 11:36). Proverbs 3:5-7 is apropos here, particularly the exhortation in verse 7, "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil."

Topics: Christian Living

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