An Acronym for Fighting Sexual Sin

For years now I have been helped in the area of lust through the use of an acronym created by John Piper: ANTHEM. Below I will summarize each letter as a different step in the process of resisting the temptation to lust:

A: AVOID – this is the idea behind the biblical injunction to “flee sexual immorality.” It stems from being honest about our vulnerabilities and taking active steps to stay far away from potential triggers for lust.
N: NO – this must be our immediate response to the first hint of lustful desire or temptation. We cannot linger in it but rather must invoke the name and authority of Jesus over it and against it.
T: TURN – the idea here is that saying “no” to lustful desire is not enough. After saying no we must turn our hearts and minds intentionally to the truth of God’s promises. This is where Scripture memory that allows us to quickly access biblical passages comes in very handy.
H: HOLD – as we turn to the Lord and his promises we must remain focused on him intentionally with our minds. This is where the practice of meditating on God’s word is particularly helpful, teaching us to “fix our eyes” on him.
E: ENJOY – as we meditate on the Lord and his promises to us, it is important to remind ourselves that he alone is the source of our greatest satisfaction and pleasure, over and above any lustful desire.
M: MOVE – this step is about action. One of the best things we can do when assaulted by lust is to get up and do something. Change scenery. Take a walk. Call a friend. Clean your house. Something, anything to simply help occupy our minds and bodies in another way.

Hopefully you’ll find these steps as helpful as I have. As always, it is important to remember that the power and strength to do these things is fueled by the Spirit and never by our own willpower. These are not steps of self-strength but rather steps that align us with the Lord’s strength.