John Piper defines the essence of Christian Hedonism in this saying: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him." In resisting temptation, we tend to work at mustering up enough will power and self control to not yield and, honestly, this approach doesn't work very well especially in the long run. A better approach is to become so ravished by the beauty and person of our Lord that we find our satisfaction, delight, joy and treasure in Him. This approach is highlighted in the below set of strategies that help us in our war against temptation. John Owen soberly cautions us: Be killing sin or sin will be killing you.

The below acronym, A N T H E M, comes from the pen of John Piper. I have taken liberty to add some of my own comments from the life of Joseph in Genesis 39.

A – AVOID as much as is possible and reasonable the sights and situations that arouse inordinate desires. Look at Joseph: He refused the temptress’ advances (v.8). “He would not listen to her and he would not even be with her (v.10). “He fled and got out of the house (v.11) “Avoiding” is a Biblical strategy. “Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness” (2 Timothy 2:22).

N – Say NO to every lustful thought within five seconds. You must mount a violent counterattack with your mind. And say it with the authority of Jesus Christ. “In the name of Jesus, NO!” John Owen said, “Be killing sin or it will be killing you.” Recall to mind one of the questions that I ask myself based upon 2 Corinthians 10:5: "Lord, does this thought lead me to love, serve, honor, and treasure Jesus?“If not, get out of my mind! Then, here's a simple prayer to pray from Martin Luther: "O God, in the name of Jesus, help me! Save me now for I am yours.”

T – TURN your mind forcefully toward Christ as a superior satisfaction. Have you ever in the first five seconds of temptation demanded of your mind that it look steadfastly at our crucified Lord Jesus Christ? John Donne says it beautifully in one of his sonnets: “Batter my heart, three-person’d God; for you… Take me to you, imprison me, for I, Except you enthrall me, never shall be free, Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.”

H – HOLD the promise and the pleasure of Christ firmly in your mind until it pushes the other images out. “Fix your eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1). Here is where many fail. They give in too soon.

E – ENJOY a superior satisfaction. One reason lust reigns in us is that Christ has so little appeal. John Piper ask a simple question: What steps have you taken to arouse your affection for Jesus? You were created to treasure Christ with all your heart. Plead with God for the satisfaction you don’t have: “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.”

M – MOVE into a useful activity, away from idleness and other vulnerable behaviors. Look at Joseph: He is faithfully doing his work (v.11). Lust grows fast in the garden of leisure. Find a good work to do, and do it with all your might.

You serve one who is greater than Joseph. In Him dwelt all the fullness of deity. He too had the palace, the power, and the glory and he lost it. Now our Savior, unlike Joseph, had no physical beauty that we should desire him, but, like Joseph, He was numbered with transgressors and thrown in with guilty prisoners. He was unjustly condemned and no deceit was in his mouth. He poured out his life and bore your sins and mine. We are the supreme passion of his life. When you come to realize that, he’ll become your supreme passion. It happened for Joseph. It can happen for you. Let's plead with the Lord to ravish us with His beauty so that He comes to have first place in the affections of our hearts.