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    I want to spend some time getting practical about the things in our lives that tempt us and look at some ways we can gain victory over them. To begin this journey, I’ll ask you to imagine your temptations like potholes in the road of your life. Every road has it’s potholes, but there are ways to keep from harming your car as you navigate them.

    Here’s the truth about potholes. Some roads have many, some have few. Some roads we drive are taken by choice and some by necessity. In order to enjoy the smoothest ride, you likely do what I do when it comes to potholes. I either one, avoid the roads that have the greatest number of potholes, or two, learn to avoid the potholes in the roads I must use when there are no alternative routes. This same principle is the starting point of gaining victory over our temptations.

    You know when and where you are tempted most. So, only you can identify the “potholes” (things, places, people that tempt you) in the road that you need to avoid. You’ll have to decide among two choices that will help you stay out of danger.

    First, commit to finding new roads in life when the ones you are accustomed to taking have too many temptations for you. This can only apply to the situations that are optional for you, things like what hobbies you participate in, the circle of friends you choose, the things you watch on TV, etc. Make a covenant with yourself to stop going to the places that thrust you into temptation, stop seeing the things that cause you to sin. Make a covenant, keep it before you, and hold to it without compromise.

Make a covenant, keep it before you, and hold to it without compromise.

    Second, when you’re on roads you can’t avoid, you need to be honest enough with yourself to identify every “pothole” that tempts you and make a covenant to avoid them. If you struggle with fantasizing about women you’re attracted to, stop gawking at them and look away and be accountable to another man for changing. If money is a problem, find a way to be accountable for every penny that passes through your hands. It may be impossible to rid your life of some things, but it’s always within your grasp to set up boundaries and parameters that will keep you holy.

    James 1 says that it’s by our “own evil desire that [we] are dragged away and enticed.” Once this desire has “conceived, it gives birth to sin.” Once we’re honest enough with ourselves to know what drags us away and entices us, we can avoid the intimate contact it takes for conception to take place! So, identify your temptations and make a covenant to set up boundaries well in advance and be accountable to a godly guy for following through on your convictions.

    Set your heart on God’s will, learn from the examples and warnings of life and set a course to stay out of the potholes!

    Father, we confess that the main reason we fall to temptation is that we refuse to take the steps to avoid them. We ask that you would reveal our temptations clearly that we might set a course that keeps us far from their grasp. In Jesus’ name, amen.

    Note: I owe much of the direction I’m taking to Stephen Arterburn, Fred Stoeker & Mike Yorkey who authored and edited a book entitled Every Man’s Battle; Winning the War on Sexual Temptation One Victory at a Time, WaterBrook Press, 2000. Although I’ve not quoted from their material, it has been one of the most valuable resources for my struggle against secret sins. I highly recommend this work for every man... as the title seems to be true to it’s claim — it is every man’s battle!