That’s what it’s like with temptation. Act soon enough, and you’re safe. Take no action as temptation begins to seep in; do nothing to block the temptation, keep open doorways to sin, and the danger slowly mounts until finally not even the strongest saint could survive the onslaught.

It’s not what happens in a moment of weakness that is critical. What matters is what you do right now to protect yourself from those moments.

Almighty God dwells within you. If ever sin defeats you, it’s not because you are weak. Plain stupidity, laziness and disobedience are the most likely culprits.

Frequently, we have to start the fight against temptation by resisting the urge to do things that seem so harmless and so far from our real weakness that we are actually embarrassed to resist them. An alcoholic, for example, might need to avoid every place that sells alcohol. That’s not only inconvenient, it’s humiliating to think that one is so weak. So instead of acting wisely, we are tempted to take what initially seem like small risks just to prove to ourselves and to others that we are not that weak. Satan will try to play with our ego on this vital matter, but the real issue is whether we are so determined to avoid temptation that we would rather suffer inconveniences and embarrassment than take risks with sin.

Taken from Victory over Temptation

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