15 Bible Verses About Resisting Temptation

Do you feel defeated as you continue to stumble into the same sinful habit repeatedly?  Maybe you feel like you’ll never find victory in this area of your life.  Today, I invite you to join me as we explore 15 Bible verses about resisting temptation.

We’ll also discuss how to overcome sinful habits for good.  Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you experience God’s power and presence in your life

15 Bible Verses About Resisting Temptation

Here are some empowering Scriptures to help you resist temptation.

Bible Verses About Resisting Temptation

1. 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

2. James 4:7

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

3. Hebrews 2:18

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

4. Matthew 26:41

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

5. 1 Timothy 6:6

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

6. 2 Corinthians 10:5

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

7. 1 John 4:4

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

8. Ephesians 6:10-11

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

9. James 1:2

10. 1 Timothy 6:11

More Bible Verses About Resisting Temptation

11. Philippians 1:6

12. Galatians 6:1

13. James 4:4

14. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

15. Galatians 5:17

Let’s Apply These Bible Verses About Resisting Temptation to Our Lives

I stand in front of the cupboard and stare blankly.  I’m not hungry, but this cupboard is the place where I come for escape when the kids are fighting and the walls are closing in.  I admire the cheese curls and decide this is not the night to break a bad habit I’ve carried for decades.

I indulge.

The cycle of my escapist eating continues, and I feel trapped and ashamed.

Perhaps you can relate.  Maybe you’ve been trying to overcome a destructive habit for decades, but you can’t seem to find freedom.

Let’s look at five practical ways to turn to God in these moments of temptation as we ask him to help us change.

How to Overcome Sinful Habits

How do we break bad habits?  Here are just a few thoughts:

1. We ask God to align our hearts with his heart toward these behaviors.

Nothing breaks a habit like becoming so sick of it that there seems to be no choice but to give it up.

This is often how God works in our lives.

The apostle Paul was sick of his sin when he penned these words to the Roman church: “I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing” (Romans 7:19).

When we can readily admit that our sinful flesh makes us miserable, we are ready to agree with God and try to give up the habit. We can begin by praying that we’ll become too sick of the behavior to continue in it.

Ask God to align your heart with his heart so that you loathe the sinful habit.  This is the first step as we aim to learn how to overcome sinful habits in our lives.

2. We focus on the negative consequences instead of the short-term rewards.

While a half-gallon of chocolate ice cream might seem good at the moment, wisdom asks what the implications are for tomorrow.

If physical discomfort comes from a habit, focus on the discomfort that will come tomorrow instead of the temporary pleasure of indulging today.

Our behaviors hold natural consequences, and it is by God’s grace that he allows us to feel the weight of our sins.

Consider whether coveting expensive things will fill you up or deplete you. Consider how the things that go into your body will make you feel in the near future. Natural consequences can be a strong deterrent when it comes to breaking bad habits.  Instead of focusing on the immediate reward of indulging, focus on how you’ll feel in an hour, a day, or a week.

3. We learn how to overcome sinful habits by turning to God in our weak moments.

God calls us to turn to him when we are weak.

When our defenses are down, and we long to give in, he waits for us to call to him. He reminds us that his power is perfected in us when we admit our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:10).

God enjoys giving wisdom to those who ask (James 1:5). We are to turn our eyes to him in our weakest moments and seek his deliverance.

God has promised not to tempt us beyond what we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13).  Stand on this promise as you ask him to help you overcome the sinful habit you want to break.  He will show you a way out.  Watch for it.

4. We replace unhealthy behaviors with healthy activities.

One of the best strategies for changing a behavior is to replace it.

We can replace our unhealthy habitual patterns with healthy patterns. A short walk is a healthier stress relief than eating a bag of potato chips. An intellectually stimulating book is healthier than an addiction to video games.

God has promised never to let us face temptation without providing a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13).

We can join him in this work by planning enjoyable replacement activities for the times when we know we’ll be tempted to indulge in unhealthy habits.

I enjoy reading gardening magazines for relaxation.  I’ve learned that “getting lost” in a gardening magazine is a much healthier escape than getting lost in a bag of chocolate chips.

Your replacement activity doesn’t have to be ultra-spiritual; it simply needs to be enjoyable.

5. We overcome sinful habits with accountability.

Finally, shining light on the hidden habits in our lives often unleashes the power to set us free.

When we bring our secrets into the light, the transforming power of the Holy Spirit is already working in us to bring us freedom.

Whether it’s seeking accountability from a friend, or seeking professional counsel to overcome a long-term addiction, walking the journey with a trusted follower of Christ can make all the difference.

God desires to see his children living in abundance and freedom from sin (John 10:10). Christ died to set us free from sin once and for all. While sinful habits may not die easily, we begin by standing in agreement that the victory is already ours, and we step into that victory one step at a time.

Calling All Parents (and Grandparents)!

As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God.  Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision.  They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love.  You can find all three books here or read more below.

Attention All Boy Moms (and Dads)!

God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom.  Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world.  I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven!  You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord.  Find this life-changing devotional book here.

Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter

Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion.  I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven.  Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.

Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20.  It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing.  This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start.  Bekah and I will help you right here.

Find Our Family Devotionals Here

Find all three books right here.  They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial!  These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them.  Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.

A Free Devotional to Help You Learn to Overcome Sinful Habits:

If these Bible verses about resisting temptation blessed you, I have a gift for you today.  Set Free: Let God Do What You Cannot explores ten realms in which most of us need God to work in our lives and bring deliverance.  We’ll talk about finding freedom from fear, worry, insecurity, bad habits, emotional pain, and more.  This short online devotional will bless you as you let God accomplish what you’ve been unable to achieve through willpower.  Get your download for free with promo code GRACE right here.

Parts of this post were originally published at Desiring God.