WRESTLING AGAINST P

We see from Jesus' temptation that satan is often trying to beat on us. So how do we wrestle with him?

I often wrestled my little brother. I was a strong wrestler and had good strength. But at age 15 my “Little” brother got bigger than me. But I would take him down aggressively and pin him before he could even fight back.

Satan does the same thing. He uses your weakness, slams you down, and pins you.

Then at age 16, my brother started to lift weights. Now he was 210 with a lot of muscle. I could still take him down but now I really struggled to pin him. He was just too strong. So I had less interest in trying to beat him. I did not like that he was so strong.

Satan is the same way. He will not like it if you get strong. And the stronger you get the less interest he will have in coming around. Every time he comes around me I instantly pray: Father, take away this spirit of lust and help me to turn aggressively from sin. Then he leaves. He still checks in on me a few times per day. But his checkups are different now. He knows that I just can't wait to attack him. That I want to attack him. That I will attack him.

But is it that simple? Not at all. I have declared war on P and on satan as if it is world war three. I spend a lot of time studying the skills needed to quit and lots of time in prayer. I study the Scriptures that pertain to quitting.

I have gone through the free STA program several times (I will add the link at the end). In their program, I keep going when their tips don't apply to me. I try what they recommend even when I don't understand why they recommend it. They say they have hundreds of skills for quitting. But you have to rummage through some ideas that are great for others, but that don't pertain at all for you. It is work.

But...

When you fight through programs like theirs, fight with prayer, and fight by gaining the knowledge you need. You begin to gain strength. And the more strength you get the less satan loves coming around. And just like my little (he was way bigger) brother. Someday you will be strong. Satan will take you down, but he can't pin you anymore. He gives you a lustful thought and you blast him with a prayer the second he does it. He tells you how much fun you could have with sin and you tell him what the scriptures say. He tempts you at your greatest weakness, but you have planned and prepared for just that. And you slam the door in his face.

Satan does not mind a little fight. But he hates a full-frontal attack.

Ephesians 6:16 says: Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Studying the Scriptures increases our faith. Studying quitting addiction skills increases our strength. STA's site is https://stoptheaddictions.com/home-page/sex-porn-freedom/sex-porn-freedom-in-30-days-day-one/

 

In the above article, I mentioned how my little (he was much bigger) brother got stronger, and eventually, I stopped wanting to wrestle him. With lust, we grow strong in fighting satan by memorizing key verses.

1 John 2:15-16 ESV
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

Pray: “Father, change me, help me to not love the world.”

When we keep reading verses like this one over and over again, we are showing God that we are committed to loving Him.

2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV
“Take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

If we read this verse every hour to get it “in us,” it will remind us to change. Have a list of 5-7 things that you can think about safely. When bad thoughts emerge, pray to turn rapidly from sin and get out your list so that you can start thinking about the good things.

Romans 8:6 “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” “We set our minds on the Spirit by obeying, worshiping, and praising God.” This verse reminds us that we could be living an abundant life.

1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.”

This is a key verse for quitting. Sometimes this verse makes me scared to sin. Also memorize Proverbs 1: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom.”

Satan will attack, but you can get way stronger when these verses are in you. Then, just blast him with a few of these verses when he attacks.

When we attack, and attack, and attack... he don't like that at all.

When my brother got stronger, I did not want to wrestle him so much anymore. Satan is the same way. While he won't give up, he does spend most of his time wrestling weaker opponents.

Fight, attack, win.