Overcoming a Sinful Habit
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
Romans 8:6
Sinful habits normally satisfy our fleshly desires, and they normally override our Spiritual guidance. And that is the war we all fight; who controls our thoughts, Christ or Satan? We can forget the temptation and ask our self, who is controlling my thoughts? Who has the most power, my flesh or Christ?
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:14) We put to death the misdeed of the body, otherwise we could pay the price for all eternity. We should always be aware that everything we think and do, has eternal consequences.
It will help to write a plan to overcome a sinful habit, and we pray for the Lord’s help in making the plan. An example plan is given below.
Write down the sinful habit and how Satan attacks.
Satan is always trying to get a foothold, and he does this by triggering a sinful thought. This is a common problem; we entertain the thought for a short moment and the next thing we know we are deep into the sin. This is how Satan deceives us.
Have a vision of Satan trying to destroy your present life and your eternal life.
Generate a vision of Satan who hates you and see total evil in his face. A picture that makes you want to fight, and fight with the power of God to assure victory.
Capture the thought and ask the Lord for his power to change the thought.
When the temptation from Satan occurs, immediately call on the Lord for his divine power to overcome. Never wait because the thought can quickly be conceived in the mind.
Have scriptures written down to read when first tempted.
Have scriptures ready to read that will make Satan flee and give you strength. And at the same time ask the Lord for his power through the scriptures.
Identify any triggers that promote the temptations.
When you are free from Satan’s temptations, write down what triggers the temptations, thoughts, pictures, anger, etc. Write down every detail including thoughts.
Identify any ways to remove or disable acting on the temptation.
Identify anything that can enable the sinful behavior, such as pictures, magazines, computers, television, etc. Think of way to disable these temptations and move away from the triggers. Satan has brought sin directly into our homes through technology.
Christ will show us show how to escape no matter what the situation. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, (Ephesians 2:20) Always pray for the Lord’s power in overcoming a sinful habit.
Today have a positive attitude that through the power of God, that overcomes any temptation from Satan, and remember Christians are the strongest people on the planet because we have the power of God.
Prayer: Help me overcome Satan’s temptations including any sinful habits, through your divine power and love. In Jesus name, Amen