Battling Temptation Together
A Collaboration Between A Sinner’s Guide to Christ & The Prayer Addict
Written by Stephen Miranda (A Sinner’s Guide to Christ)
and AJ (The Prayer Addict)
This post is a collaboration with my good friend, Stephen Miranda, who writes over at A Sinner’s Guide to Christ. Definitely check him out, subscribe, and support his work — his writing is raw, heartfelt, and full of truth. He shares real struggles he’s faced and the ways Christ has helped him overcome. His testimony and encouragement remind us that no matter how far we’ve fallen, God’s grace still reaches deeper.
Not only that but Stephen has been a really great brother in Christ. Someone who I've grown to trust and be able to talk to through a difficult season in my life. The love and care that he has approached me with since the beginning of my Substack journey has been a true reflection of Christ. And for that, I can't thank him enough.
Temptation is something every believer faces — it’s a daily battle that tests our faith, self-control, and dependence on God. Whether it’s old habits creeping back, moments of weakness, or thoughts that lead us astray, the enemy knows how to attack when we’re vulnerable. But the good news is, God has given us tools to fight back.
Stephen Miranda – A Sinner’s Guide to Christ
Satan is a powerful foe. As I’ve shared before, he is currently the ruler of this world — at least until the Second Coming of Christ, when he will be defeated once and for all.
The enemy thrives on seeing us fall into temptation. He’s been doing it since the Garden of Eden. But what exactly is temptation?
According to Merriam-Webster, it’s “the act of tempting or the state of being tempted, especially to evil; an enticement to do something that is wrong or unwise.”
Think about those times in your life when you knew something was wrong but did it anyway. That wasn’t just poor judgment — that was evil whispering in your ear.
If you’ve followed my writing, you know I’ve been transparent about the sinner I once was before surrendering my life to Jesus Christ. Reflecting on that definition hits hard, remembering the lies of the enemy that I believed for so long:
“Nobody’s looking, just do it. Nobody will know…”
“It’s just one time — everyone else is doing it…”
“Who cares? This is what living looks like. Those ‘goody-two-shoes’ are boring…”
“You can control it. You’re not like the others — you go to work every day…”
Those lies led me into temptation again and again.
But when I re-committed my life to Christ and began truly studying His Word, I realized something: temptation is normal. We all face it — even Jesus did.
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” -Matthew 4:1
Jesus had fasted forty days and forty nights. He was tired and hungry. And that’s when Satan came — right at His weakest moment. The devil tempted Him three times, and each time, Jesus resisted with the Word of God.
“Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” - Matthew 4:11
You might think, Well, of course Jesus could resist — He’s Jesus. But how do we stand strong against the enemy’s schemes?
First, understand — it’s not easy. The enemy is relentless. He attacks when we’re tired, lonely, hungry, or hurting.
Second, we must be prepared to fight. Here’s how I personally stay grounded:
Stay in God’s Word daily. It keeps me rooted and ready for battle.
Keep a journal. Write down verses that speak to you.
Memorize Scripture. I’m still working on my “mental Rolodex,” but it’s powerful to have God’s Word ready when temptation hits.
Lean on other believers. Community is a weapon. Through sharing my faith, I’ve connected with brothers in Christ — including AJ — who keep me accountable and encouraged.
We all have different ways of dealing with temptation, so I asked AJ from The Prayer Addict to share how he copes when the enemy comes knocking.
AJ – The Prayer Addict
Thanks, Stephen.
For me, it starts with awareness — knowing what’s of God and what’s of the enemy. The Bible makes it clear: God never tempts us.
“For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.” James 1:13
Temptation comes from our own desires, which drag us toward sin. God doesn’t send temptation — but He may allow testing to strengthen and grow our faith.
My first line of defense is prayer. (I mean… I am The Prayer Addict, right? 😄) Prayer has proven powerful in my life time and time again. When temptation hits, it’s my lifeline.
A verse that has helped me countless times and that I've found worth memorizing is:
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
That verse reminds me that I’m not alone — whatever I’m facing, others have faced too. God doesn’t abandon us in the middle of temptation; He always provides a way out. Sometimes that way out looks like turning off your phone, walking away from a situation, or getting on your knees in prayer. The escape is there — we just have to choose it.
Here are a few other ways I’ve found helpful:
Occupy your time. Boredom is one of Satan’s favorite tools. When I’m idle, temptation gets louder. So I replace unhealthy habits with good ones — reading the Bible, working out, going for a walk, cleaning my car, or tackling chores. Staying productive keeps my mind focused.
Stick to a routine. My days are built around prayer and purpose: wake up early, pray, prep meals, work, pray, exercise, pray again, shower, and end the night with more prayer. Repetition builds discipline.
Seek out Christian content. If I’m struggling with a specific temptation — say, lust — I’ll find sermons or YouTube testimonies from others overcoming the same thing. It reminds me I’m not alone and helps renew my mind.
Closing Thoughts (Stephen & AJ)
Temptation is something every believer faces. None of us are immune — not even Jesus was.
But when we prepare ourselves with prayer, Scripture, and community, we stand a much better chance of overcoming. And when we stumble (because we all do), our Savior is there to pick us up, forgive us, heal us, and remind us of His love.
Stay strong in your faith. Keep fighting. Keep praying.
And remember — we’re in this together!! Feel free to comment some ways you've dealt with overcoming temptation and share your thoughts.
– Stephen Miranda (A Sinner’s Guide to Christ)
– AJ (The Prayer Addict)
Thank you both so much for writing about this. Sin and temptation are things we all wrestle with, even if we’d rather not talk about it. I get why people are hesitant—no one wants their struggles out in the open—but God already knows them all anyway. What really stood out to me was the way you didn’t just talk about the problem, but you offered practical ways to move forward. That encouragement means more than you know. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that we’re not alone in this and that God always gives us a way out. I really needed to hear this, so thank you again for your honesty and insight.
Your opening brought me to tears. You think I’ve helped you, and you have no idea how much you have helped me…love ya my brother…to God be the glory…forever and ever, AMEN 🙏🏽