How can I learn to say no to temptation?

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age Titus 2:11-12

Certain questions cut right to the marrow. They expose and lay bare.

In a group of recovering addicts, just such a question was asked about the above verse. The question goes like this":

“How does the grace of God teach us to say “No”?

As we took turns taking a shot at the answer, two women just smiled and said, “I got nothing”. A couple of other people said some meaningful words—but they didn’t address the question.

It’s understandable that this question would stymie several members of the group. The answer is not at all obvious or intuitive.

Christians believe it is impossible to answer a question like this one without the divine indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

The question is so tough to answer that the person who did the best job answering it needed two turns.

On the first go-round, Denise explained that punishment and shame stop working after a while. Threats lose their power when you’ve seen it all—or when you don’t really care about yourself anymore.

That was a good answer. Possibly a great one.

But after everyone had spoken, she interrupted the facilitator and asked to append her earlier answer.

I really can’t believe that my daughter still wants to talk to me. When she was taken away, I had no contact with her for 4 years. That whole time I was drinking, partying, and living on the street. But lately we have been talking on the phone— and she does want to talk to me. That’s the grace of God right there.

And the fact that she still loves me and wants me in her life is more motivation for sobriety than anything else I can think of.

I hesitate to add anything to what Denise said. Her answer illustrates the Biblical principle in an ordinary setting.

But, something occurred to me this morning. The grace of God doesn’t just make us say “No” and it doesn’t just give us the power to say “No”

It teaches us to say “No”.

God’s grace is like a teacher.

Teachers utilize a whole host of skills to “teach” their students. They get their students excited. They motivate them to learn. They challenge them, drill them, and shower them with praise.

Teachers also give bad grades and pointed feedback.

But they stick with their students.

Today. my prayer for everyone in recovery is that the grace of God would teach us to say “No”.