Have you ever found yourself asking God to forgive you again and again for the same sin? Whatever the sin was, you just could not seem to be able to stop yourself from repeating it. Perhaps you even went to the altar week after week and attempted to make it right with the Lord.
There is a solution.
Sometimes a sin will get its hooks in a person, and stopping that sin is a real challenge. When this happens, a change of mind is needed. You see, the real problem is deeper than that one sin. We know that sin is the stuff that God doesn’t want us doing. The problem is that we choose it – something that we want – over what God wants. Ultimately, the choice is between God and us.
Our friends may also be a part of the problem. Not really. The choice is still ours. When we choose what our friends want us to do, we are still choosing what we want – to follow our friends – over following Jesus.
Sometimes conquering a sin comes down to not putting ourselves in the situation where we can make a poor choice. You may need to change some habits to make that a reality. You may need to think ahead and plan to put yourself in a different situation. Sometimes it really is as simple as that. When you avoid the situation, you avoid having to face that temptation.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
James 4:7-8
A great way to resist the devil and draw nigh to God is with scripture. Consider the following passage.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Surrounding yourself with scripture will help you to keep God first and foremost in your mind. When you love God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might, you will find it easier to walk in the Spirit. With the power of the Holy Spirit, you can avoid sin.
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to pray about any sin – especially recurring sin – in your life. Ask God to help you to avoid putting yourself in a situation where temptation will get the better of you. Look up any scriptures that will help you in your walk, and place them where you can read them throughout the day. Remember, you have the power of the Holy Spirit to help you.