This line from Lorrie Flem of Eternal Encouragement has stuck with me since I read it in one of her newsletters.
“Sin always takes us farther than we thought we’d go, keeps us longer than we thought we’d stay, and costs more than we thought we’d pay. We really do become slaves to our sinning, whether it’s lying, lusting, or losing it when we’re angry. And until we admit we’re hooked; we’re powerless to stop. Will you admit yours?”
We all have areas of sin that are more difficult to overcome. What is difficult for me may not even be a temptation for you and what is difficult for you may not be a temptation for me. But each of us has our own personal area(s) of difficulty.
Our enemy knows us each intimately and tailors our temptations for our personal weaknesses. He knows not to try to tempt me to smoke since I’ve overcome that temptation. But he also knows the areas that I’m still struggling with.
As I struggle with my current area of sin I’ve been thinking about the differences between the sin’s I’ve overcome and the ones I still struggle to overcome.
One difference I’ve found is that I’ve left a door open to my current sin – or as Romans 13:14 says, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.
Making provision for the flesh or keeping your options open – allowing “just this once” to be part of your thinking about your current sin. I’m finding that there are too many times that I allow myself to sin “just this once”.
Ephesians 4:22-24 instructs us to put off the old and put on the new,
“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” KJV
Putting off the old sin, renewing your mind – this tends to be more difficult than it sounds. There is no way to do this without the Lord. I find I have to keep my thought life focused on the Lord and His promises – sometimes minute by minute.
One promise I’ve found very helpful is found in 1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
If I’m sensitive to the Lord’s leading I do see the ways He provides for me to escape temptation. But I have to receive them and apply them to my situation.
Then there is the Lord’s mercy – it is new every morning.
“It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” Lamentations 3:22-23.
Where are you struggling? What do you find helpful? Please share so we can all benefit from what the Lord is teaching us.
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Finding Joy in the Journey,
Phyllis
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Phyllis Sather
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1 Comment
Renee
It is way too easy to “make provision for the flesh.” What an important battle for us to fight. Thanks for posting this. Blessings!