HOW TO WIN OVER SIN

Romans 7:18-20 New Living Translation

“And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.”

            Paul was conflicted by the sin that rose up to tempt him each day. He’s not the only one in scripture who was tempted. Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days & 40 nights. Scripture doesn’t tell us the devil triedto tempt Jesus. It clearly says he was tempted by the devil for 40 days. While we only know what the Bible shares, it sounds like the devil’s temptations and testings’ were relentless. If that is true, how on earth could weever hope to withstand the sin that so easily entangles us? 

            We must shift our focus! I say that a lot because it is a winning formula to overcome any difficult situation we happen to be in. Paul knows the answer to the burning question of sin and how to overcome it. “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”_{(Philippians 4:8 NLT)} If we occupy our mind with things such as these we will have a peaceful spirit and will have less of a chance to succumb to the temptation that stands outside your door. 

            To win in the battle against sinful temptations, you must diligently seek to live the word of God, seeking its guidance and relying on the Holy Spirit to direct your paths. Without Christ we will give up in the midst of the battle. We will sit down, scratching our head, wondering how Jesus had the spiritual endurance to withstand the devils prodding. Jesus placed HIS focus on “the joy that was set before him”_{(Hebrews 12:2)}. He knew what he must endure to be victorious in the war against sin. His joy was to die in our place. When we feel like giving in to sin, may the Holy Spirit show us what Christ went thru so we wouldn’t have to pay the price we could never afford to pay. What joy is set before you today? Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources:www.biblegateway.com, The Life Application Study Bible & The Max Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible.

1 John 3:4-6 (NLT)“Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.  And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him.  Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.”

Psalm 119:133 (NLT)“Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil.”

Genesis 4:7 (NLT)“You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”