When you get tempted to do something bad, what do you do in order to avoid doing so? Like... idk pray, or think about something else. Got any suggestions or stuff like that?

Well, it's hard to offer overly useful advice unless we know what the problem is.

However, a good general rule of thumb:

Know when you are most likely to be tempted to do the thing you do, and make a plan, before you are usually tempted, about what you will do instead. Usually the easiest thing to do is to be around someone else. More often than not having someone else around keep you from doing whatever it is you were going to. Most people are ashamed to get caught breaking any sort of rules.... depends on the person you are around I guess, but still.

Without knowing the specifics of what you're trying to not do that's about all the advice I can give.

Originally posted by geeogree

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Well, it's hard to offer overly useful advice unless we know what the problem is.

However, a good general rule of thumb:

Know when you are most likely to be tempted to do the thing you do, and make a plan, before you are usually tempted, about what you will do instead. Usually the easiest thing to do is to be around someone else. More often than not having someone else around keep you from doing whatever it is you were going to. Most people are ashamed to get caught breaking any sort of rules.... depends on the person you are around I guess, but still.

Without knowing the specifics of what you're trying to not do that's about all the advice I can give.

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Well, i don't exactly feel too comfortable sharing that... but you're right about having someone else around though. I definitely find it harder to be tempted around people. Thanks anyway

[nod]. I wasn't trying to get you to divulge anything you don't want to tell the rest of us. I was simply pointing out that without knowledge of the exact nature of the problem it's difficult to be more helpful.

Regardless of the problem though, my suggestion is pretty good for most situations. If you follow through on your plan that is

I know you meant well. I guess the main problem is that even if i tell myself not to, i seem to just ignore it and just do that anyway. Then afterwards I always feel so terrible...

Along with geeorgee's advice I'd also suggest contacting someone in some way, not to tell them about whatever's tempting you necessarily, but talking to someone else can help distract you from your temptation. Find something to just distract yourself. A hobby or something that can you can just put all your energy into and keeps you from thinking. Also just keep listing all the reasons why you shouldn't give into the temptation. Keep going over it in your mind like a mantra. The best thing to do is to tell someone you trust though. It can be hard but the extra help is definitely good to have.

I think the other thing to remember is that no one is perfect. We all have things that we do that we don't think very highly of or would like to change. I have a pretty short temper in a lot of situations. I don't like it, but I do my best to handle the things that frustrate me in as positive a way as possible. It's tough but I manage.

the big key is to not give up just because you messed up. You can fall down a million times but as long as you get up a million and 1 times then I think you're at least trying to be better.

Without knowing the specifics (not that I want to), like geeo said it's kinda hard to be a huge help, but...
Find a Christian friend. You don't have to divulge everything, just tell them you're having a hard time, being tempted by something, and ask them to pray. Pray with them, have them pray at times when you know when the temptation will be at it's strongest, it doesn't matter, but if you have someone praying for you, and if you yourself are praying, it'll be a lot harder to go through with the temptation.

Thanks guys . I guess the fact that I'm trying to resist it instead of just indulging in it already shows that i'm a true Christian and that I'm getting some progress.

To be honest, I don't know how I do it sometimes. I guess God helps me deal with it. It is straining. But I resist.

I have to agree that planning ahead what you will do can help greatly. The best thing to do is to make your plan, pray about it for a period of time, as in at least a couple days to a couple weeks to not only reinforce your plan within yourself, but to also gain from the strength God gives you to resist. I personally have found that whenever temptation comes that going into the bible and studying the bible often times helps with the temptation. Also, sometimes you might find out that you were just misinterpreting whether something is wrong. For example from scripture; Acts 10:9 14-16 14:And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15:And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

Originally posted by Theta316

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I have to agree that planning ahead what you will do can help greatly. The best thing to do is to make your plan, pray about it for a period of time, as in at least a couple days to a couple weeks to not only reinforce your plan within yourself, but to also gain from the strength God gives you to resist. I personally have found that whenever temptation comes that going into the bible and studying the bible often times helps with the temptation. Also, sometimes you might find out that you were just misinterpreting whether something is wrong. For example from scripture; Acts 10:9 14-16 14:And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15:And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

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Well, if you were saying that I might have misinterpreted it and that actually what I was doing wasn't wrong... well... I know it's wrong... haha. It's just a hard thing to overcome. I struggle with it almost daily. But your suggestions are really good ideas.

Well personally I try to stay away and avoid the things in life that will tempt me negatively. It's better off that way so I don't even have to worry about dealing with. I know what your going to say then, "Well what if it just randomly presents itself". Well I either ignore my temptations or get away from whatever is tempting me if at all possible that is...

I do not do anything religon related. I take a good pause and consider the results of my actions. I then seeing if there not evil enough to care, I will then measure the chances of me pulling this off while looking back on any possible bad results. If the bad simply out ways the good I decide not to use this action or in other words prank.

The fact that you realize something is wrong and that it's temptation means you're already on your way to overcoming it. You have to realize that you really don't want to do it, and remember how bad you felt after before you do it. Remember that it isn't worth it, because it's just going to make you feel bad after. If it isn't worth doing, don't do it. Try to recognize what is tempting about it, and what makes you start to feel tempted, and stay away from that and avoid it.

I just had a though while reading some of the suggestions here....

quite often what we do in life replaces or fills a void in our lives where something else should be... or has taken the place of something else.

Find out either what you're missing or something else positive you could be doing to occupy more of your time and improve your self-esteem. I'm not assuming you have low self-esteem but the best way to overcome a negative thing in life is to become more positive in what you do/say/think.

OH, and every action you take in life was thought about before it happened. Whether in the moment or 10 hours before or 10 days before. Every choice you make was decided before you made it in that moment. So resolve to make the choice NOW to not do what you don't want to and stick to that choice no matter what.

Originally posted by geeogree

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I just had a though while reading some of the suggestions here....

quite often what we do in life replaces or fills a void in our lives where something else should be... or has taken the place of something else.

Find out either what you're missing or something else positive you could be doing to occupy more of your time and improve your self-esteem. I'm not assuming you have low self-esteem but the best way to overcome a negative thing in life is to become more positive in what you do/say/think.

OH, and every action you take in life was thought about before it happened. Whether in the moment or 10 hours before or 10 days before. Every choice you make was decided before you made it in that moment. So resolve to make the choice NOW to not do what you don't want to and stick to that choice no matter what.

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Yeah, that sounds right. I think i know what that missing thing is. Meanwhile, i guess i can just focus on playing guitar or school or something like that. Hanging out with friends would help too. Thanks

I think wwJd lol just kidding, kind of.
If im in a stiuation where I might do something that I know is wrong, it helps if I think about karma.

Well I can deal with it when I pray. I pray ahead of time before I get tempted to be honest.

I listen to my conscious.
That's the reason it's there.