So you think that you will never succumb to moral temptation, do you? If you want to safeguard yourself against sexual temptation, remember the following:
Guideline 1: Never think it couldn’t happen to you. None of us is invulnerable. In Proverbs 16:18 we read, “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.†Rick Warren says, “The morning I say, ‘I’ve conquered that problem,’ that’s the morning I’m open for temptation. It’s like the person who believes he’s never going to be robbed so he never locks his doors, never bolts down his windows, and leaves his money lying all around.†To prevent that, take no chances. The words from Jeremiah 17:9 tell us, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?â€
Guideline 2: Guard your thought life. Every act of indiscretion begins with a thought. That’s why what you watch, what you look at, and what you listen to influence your life. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.â€
Guideline 3: Keep your relationship with the Lord vibrant and alive. This means keeping touch on a daily basis – by reading His Word, opening your heart to Him in prayer, and confessing your sins and your weaknesses.
Guideline 4: If you’re married, keep your marriage healthy and strong. Think of the old saying, “The grass is not greener on the other side of the fence but where you water it.â€
Guideline 5: Never ignore the tragic consequences of moral failure. Infidelity results in broken homes 85 percent of the time.
Guideline 6: Don’t allow yourself to be vulnerable. When you let down your guard, you are a prime candidate for failure. The road to failure is littered with those who spoke the shallow words, “It couldn’t happen to me.†Don’t be one of them.
Used with permission from Guidelines Philippines, Inc. To learn more about Guidelines and the ministry, please write to Box 4000, 1280 Makati City, Philippines or e-mail address box4000@guidelines.org. You may also visit our website at www.guidelines.org.