Today, New York's governor Eliot Spitzer admitted being involved in a prostitution ring. When I heard the news, past headlines immediately came to mind, such sex scandals for a previous president and a current Minnesota senator. Others have recently been outed for lying, embezzling, or accepting and offering favors. It's easy to conclude that everyone is doing "it"--doing wrong behind closed doors. Some are just better at hiding the "it" than others.

Unfortunately, believers are not exempt. In my lifetime (and even in my city of Colorado Springs), we've learned more than our share of Christian leaders whose previously hidden sin has been exposed. I even attended one church where we watched this happen. Observing our leaders--and especially Christian leaders-- fall is discouraging. But each incident can serve as a reminder to guard against this happening to us.

Satan would love nothing more than for us to believe that we cannot possibly live a godly life, particularly when someone we respect and admire is exposed. But we can. God gives us His Word, His people for accountability, and His availability for prayer to help us live lives above reproach.

For the believer as well as those who don't know Christ, sin doesn't just happen out of the blue. It occurs after a series of compromises. Compromise 1 + compromise 2 + compromise 3 =sin. Preventing the sin from happening can only be successful if it is nipped in the bud. We have to identify and put an end to the early compromises if sin is not to result.

Allow me to take apart Proverbs 6:6-23 to give you nine steps for spotting and overcoming temptation in your life before it does you in:

1. Don't be unwise.

"And saw a simple minded young man who lacked common sense."

Know what you will and will not do ahead-of-time. Recognize temptation before it grows too big for you to handle. For victory over temptation, you must have clear goals and sound strategies, and you must diligently carry them out. The first line of defense against impurity? "Flee sexual immorality" (1 Cor. 6:18).

2. Don't go where you shouldn't go.

"He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman."

Practice being content with good things. While some people don't physically go where they shouldn't go, their minds and emotions do through what they read or watch or listen to. They continue to stay in touch with wrong. Don't go where you shouldn't, not emotionally or physically! Replace the bad stuff with the good stuff.

3. Don't do things in the dark.

"He was strolling down the path by her house at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in."

If it has to be done in the dark when no one is watching, it's wrong!

4. Don't be duped by sin's many disguises.

"The woman approached him, dressed seductively and sly of heart."

Arm yourself with what is right, so you will know wrong when it comes. Know the truth so you'll call the lies for what they are. Temptation is nothing more than lies and truth disguised, and her disguise always looks good. Just remember the devastation lurking beyond.

5. Don't hang around with the wrong kind of people.

"She was the brash rebellious type who never stays at home.
She is often seen in the streets and markets, soliciting at every corner."

Stay involved with activities that involve safe place and safe people. If not, they'll drag you down. Chuck Swindoll talks about compromise with this simple statement: "If you play in the mud with white gloves on, the gloves always get muddy, the mud never gets 'glovey.' "

6. Don't get too close to the line.

"She threw her arms around him and kissed him, and with a brazen look she said, . . . It's you I was looking for! I came out to find you, and here you are!"

Remember, it's those little compromises that add up to big sins. If you don't want your children watching what you're about to do, then you shouldn't be doing it. Using standards such as these will help you not get too close to the line.

7. Don't let yourself get worn down so you give in to temptation.

"My bed is spread with colored sheets of finest linen imported from Egypt.
I've perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon."

You're most vulnerable when you're tired, isolated, lonely, discouraged, depressed, angry, or struggling in a relationship. Satan even did this to Jesus. "When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left Him until an opportune time" (Lu. 4:13). Satisfy yourself with Christ, then sin will become unattractive (Jn. 6:35). Keep the truth shining brighter than the lie. "We are not unaware of Satan's schemes" (2 Cor. 2:11).

When you get into a situation and you are no longer sure of what's right, get away. Get some distance. Get some accountability. Get an idea of how to avoid the close call next time.

8. Don't believe that everyone's doing it.

" 'Come, let's drink our fill of love until morning.
Let's enjoy each other's caresses
For my husband is not home.
He's away on a long trip.
He has taken a wallet full of money with him, and he won't return until later in the month.' "

Temptation has unique ways of bringing its consequences. Don't be duped into believing that no one will know. As a matter of fact, several verses warn you that what you do will come out:
"Your sin will find you out" (Num. 32:23).
"He who takes crooked paths will be found out" (Pro. 10:9).

9. Don't fail to celebrate your victories.

So she seduced him with her pretty speech.
With her flattery she enticed him.
He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter or like a trapped stag, awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart.
He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life.

Remember, sin, when it is finished, brings forth death (James 1:15). If you allow sin to continue in your life, you will witness death. Death to your reputation. Death to your relationships. Death to your life's impact.

Instead, bring life that comes with pure living--in secret as well as public. And Matthew 6 tells us that our Father who sees in secret will reward us openly.