“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7.

There are many who are really troubled because low, debasing thoughts come into the mind and are not easily banished. Satan has his evil angels around us, and though they cannot read men’s thoughts, they closely watch their words and actions. Satan takes advantage of the weaknesses and defects of character that are thus revealed and presses his temptations where there is the least power of resistance. He makes evil suggestions and inspires worldly thoughts, knowing that he can thus bring the soul into condemnation and bondage. To those who are selfish, worldly, avaricious, proud, fault finding, or given to detraction, to all who are cherishing errors and defects of character, Satan presents the indulgence of self and leads the soul off upon a track that the Bible condemns, but which he makes appear attractive.

For every class of temptations there is a remedy. We are not left to ourselves to fight the battle against self and our sinful natures in our own finite strength. Jesus is a mighty helper; a never-failing support…. The mind must be restrained and not allowed to wander. It should be trained to dwell upon the Scriptures and upon noble, elevating themes. Portions of Scripture, even whole chapters, may be committed to memory, to be repeated when Satan comes in with his temptations…. When Satan would lead the mind to dwell upon earthly and sensual things, he is most effectually resisted with, “It is written.” –Mind, Character, and Personality, vol. 2, pp. 658, 659.