As long as we live we will face temptations. When we don’t allow the Lord to lead us by His Spirit we must acknowledge our mistake when we become aware that we have sinned. From time to time, we may sense the a warning from God’s Spirit. If not heeded, we may next sense guilt and perhaps the shame of slipping back into our old way of living. The apostle Paul noted: For when you were tricked into complacent sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. Romans 6: 20-21

Obedience to God may seem difficult, but let’s look at how God will help you overcome the devil by looking at a few scriptures:

• Let Love Motivate If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.  John 14:15-17 NLT
• Keep Alert Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41 ESV
• It’s God’s Work You must be even more careful to put into action God’s saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:12-13 NLT

Jesus is our example. When facing troubles, he would rise early and go to a quiet place and pray for strength. Follow his example — remove yourself from the temptation and immediately ask God for help. Don’t dialogue with Satan. He has strategies of attack to trick and lie and destroy the smartest people on earth. Don’t forget that you have the power of the Holy Spirit within you to prompt you to obey in times of temptation. Paul had advice for this experience of overcoming:

• What God requires, he also empowers. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become entirely committed children of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6: 22-23