A ‘vector’ has both magnitude and direction. When you feel drawn to something, the intensity with which you feel drawn is ‘magnitude’, the target of what you’re drawn to is ‘direction’. The greater you feel drawn to it, the greater the magnitude. Often, we are drawn to things that God does not want us to focus on. Intense, prolonged focus on something makes that thing an idol.
When you have a sin idol in your life, you need God’s help to replace the focus of your thoughts and energies. Think now of those things you are strongly and repeatedly drawn to that God doesn’t want you focusing on.
Make a prayer and tell Him that anytime you say or think the word ‘replace’ to please consider that a prayer, that he would move the focus of your thoughts to things of God, to replace the idol in your mind with things of God. And ask Him to please keep the magnitude unchanged or even make it greater.
In other words, ask Him to move the focus of your thoughts from the sin to Him and keep the desire just as strong or stronger. I believe God will honor that prayer.
If your idol is alcohol, every time you pass a bar or liquor store and feel called to go in, say ‘REPLACE’.
If your idol is sex, every time you see someone you would usually lust after (or even think of it) say ‘REPLACE’.
If your idol is vengeance on those you’re angry with, whenever thoughts of getting even come to you, say ‘REPLACE’.
If your idol is money, if your idol is fame, if your idol is physical perfection, pray ‘REPLACE’ to Him every time and He will help turn your thoughts from the idol towards Him.
You can’t merely stop thinking about your desire, because that creates a vacuum in your thoughts, and the easiest thing to get sucked into the vacuum is the thing that just there a moment ago.
Pray God does not allow any vacuum to ever form. Pray that in the very moment of temptation, He gives you an immediate passion instead for deep knowledge of His ways and of scripture. Lust for things of God as you would lust for things related to your idol.
Philippians 4:8
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
REPLACE the focus of your feelings with things of God, without losing any of the magnitude of that vector. Keep the power and intensity, just change the direction. Practice calling out ‘REPLACE’ to God out loud and in your thoughts any time you are tempted to dwell on anything sinful. God will honor your desire and help you.