"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God "; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren."
Thought → Fantasy → Desire → Choice → Consent → Action (Sin)
The best defense against sin starts with the thought. As a Christian we must determine ahead of time to purge our minds of sinful thoughts. If, on the other hand, we give in to the sinful thought and begin to fantasize about the feelings we might enjoy our walls are weakened and we form a desire to carry out that thought. Once we give into the desire we then are required to make a choice. During the time of choice we will either give in, or consent, to carry out the action of the sinful behavior or we will turn away.
The best way to fight against Satan’s weapons is to resist the temptation to sin by making a conscious effort to obey God and recognize that He is in control. If our thoughts and temptations begin to lead us towards a sinful act, ask yourself, first, is this in line with God’s will? If the act will be a violation of God’s will in our life then we must make the choice to walk according to the Word of God.
We are stronger when we know the Scriptures, meditate on His Word, and pray faithfully for God’s intervention.
Read Ephesians 6:10-17.