The Squeeze by Tim Stafford

How to resist temptations?

1. Know what you're getting into. Think about the long-term results of how you act. If you can see the attraction of the kind of life God wants to place in you, you will be less tempted to choose some other short-term pleasure.
   
2. Replace tempting thoughts with something better. You can't ignore temptation, but you can fill your thoughts with something else.
3. Your mind tends to follow patterns. Change the patterns and you change your mind.
4. Break the pattern of failure by confession. When you go over your mistakes with another person, it changes your attitude. For one thing, you receive forgiveness and your mind is put at rest.
5. Above all, remember who you are: a child of God, loved by Him. When tempting thoughts come, recall that fact to your mind: "I could act that way, but does that really bring honor to God? I want to be loyal and loving to Him the way He is to me."

Each of us has at least one area of special weakness. We may find temptation too strong there and experience repeated failures. Often we become discouraged and are tempted by a much worse sin: hopelessness
At these times it is more important than ever to realize the limitless nature of God's forgiveness. It is limitless, which is hard for us to understand. But if you cling to it, someday the are you are weakest in will be transformed into a special strength.