Temptation plus opportunity equals trouble.
Let’s break that down.
- Temptation: We know that some temptation is inevitable. It shows up in unavoidable images, memories, and various triggers. But we need to steer clear of temptation whenever possible. “Each person is tempted when he is dragged away by their own evil desires and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:14-15).
- Opportunity: You need to be aware of the opportunities that are most threatening. These may include being alone at night, certain movie channels, places, people, or other situations in which you have acted out in the past.
- Trouble: Put temptation and opportunity on the same page, and that chapter often ends badly. The key is to avoid temptations when you are in certain opportune moments and to minimize opportunities when temptations arise.
Recovery Step: Some level of temptations and opportunities are going to happen. Do your best to not let them happen at the same time because that spells trouble.
