Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts.  Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace.  Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.  Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights (2 Timothy 2:22-23)

I remember the old western, “Gunsmoke” where the sheriff was known tell potential “bad men” to get out of Dodge to avoid conflict with the law.  So, too, are the circumstances in our lives when the devil seems to be more powerful than we are.  One of the most important pieces of information that the Bible teaches is that this great dragon–the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world–was thrown down to the earth with all his angel (Revelation 12:9).   Even Jesus was tempted by the devil’s power over the earth.  Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.  “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me (Matthew 4:9-9)

I know that the Bible says, Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7).  But sometimes that isn’t so easy to do.  Sometimes when you find yourself in a situation where temptation is simply more than you can handle, though you’re bound and determined to do it on your own, saying to yourself, I’m strong enough to fight  Satan in a particular situation, forgetting that is not our battle to fight.

If you have a problem with drinking, don’t spend your time in bars or with other people who drink.  If you have a problem with online pornography, stay off the internet.  Keep yourself away from any occasion for sin to enter your life.  Find someone that you can be accountable to.   The One thing that is in your power is to, Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.  And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires (Romans 13:14).

I think the Word for Today puts it best:  you’ll never accomplish it through willpower, good intentions, or self-effort…Trying to do yourself what only God can do is like trying to pick yourself up by your own bootstraps; it doesn’t work,….Yes, you need to do your part, but don’t try to do God’s part.   You  will never succeed on your own, because humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible (Matthew 19:26).