Are you trying to resist the temptation of using an addictive substance?
Learn from Daniel Belteshazzar for even though he lived many centuries ago, he faced and overcome the same temptations that we face today.
1. Decline free offers
Even if you are offered the addictive substances free, decline the free substances like Daniel did during his 3 year training in Babylon for he had free access to alcohol for King Nebuchadnezzar appointed for all the students a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank. (Daniel 1:5)
But he did not drink it for Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself neither with King Nebuchadnezzar’s delicacies nor with the wine. (Daniel 1:8)
Therefore, purpose like Daniel that you will not pollute your body, which is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, with alcohol, cigarettes, drugs or junk food whether or not it is free.
Stop accepting free “samples” from “friends” as their aim is to get you hooked so that you can then start paying for the addictive substances.
In addition, discipline yourself not to touch the addictive substances around you that may belong to your parents, guardians, other students or work mates.
2. Resist peer pressure
Daniel did not use the excuse that “Most of the other students are drinking the king’s wine and I’ll seem weird or antisocial if I don’t.”
He did the right thing in the sight of God and did not drink the alcohol for it is better to be “anti-social” than to be “anti-God”
Therefore even if all the other students in your learning institution or colleagues in your work place are using addictive substances, you don’t have to copy them. Stand firm like Daniel and abstain by doing the right thing in the sight of God.
3. Do not justify using the addictive substances
Daniel did not justify drinking by saying “I’ll drink this alcohol to reduce the stress of studying this difficult Language and literature of the Chaldeans.” (Daniel 1:4) He did the right thing regardless of his circumstances.
Therefore, even if you are stressed by studies or any other issue in life, do not use the stress as justification to use addictive substances. Do not also deceive yourself that you are reducing the stress by using the addictive substance. Manage the stress with the Word of God and not with an addictive substance.
Adapted from Managing Stress for Teens by Dr. Miriam Kinai © 2009.
Stress Management Thursday: What is the most effective way to resist temptation?
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