Overcoming Sinful Habits
Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
1 John 5:4
Sinful habits come from Satan through our sinful desires of our flesh. Overcoming sinful habits in our own power is difficult, because the sinful behavior often reoccurs. Overcoming sinful habits requires the power of God, and a strong desire to overcome.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21) We access the power of God through the Holy Spirit, and the power gets stronger as we change our thinking. The Holy Spirt guides us into Bible study, prayer, and Christian fellowship, which helps us to change our thinking. And as our minds rewire to the things of God, and unwire from things of the sinful world; and our lifestyle changes from the sinful world to the to the fullness of God.
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. (Romans 8:9) All sinful habits come from Satan, and the temptations are aimed to satisfy the flesh. It’s the Spirit that enables us to replace the sinful habits with Godly habits, which adds power to change our thinking.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2) To overcome a sinful habit we change our thinking so our brains rewire to Godly thoughts, replacing the old sinful thoughts. Our brains will rewire to Godly thinking throughout our Christians life, and this new thinking gives us the power of the Spirit to overcome, because our new thinking gives us the desire to overcome.
The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7) As our mind renews, we start to serve Christ by bringing Christ to others, and when this happens our desire to overcome a sinful habit goes from our minds to our hearts; and we live out of our hearts. God’s love increases in our hearts as we bring Christ to others, and love motivates us to please God over pleasing our sinful flesh.
Today seek to overcome any sinful habit through prayer, read Bible verses, or call a Christian friend. Celebrate every victory no matter how small, because it rewards the new behavior, and we celebrate victory over Satan. Know that all sin comes from Satan, because he wants to pull you away from God.
Prayer: Lord, guide me to replace sinful habits with new Godly habits, and mold me today to be more Christ-like in all my ways. And always remind me that sin comes from Satan, who wants to destroy my eternal life. In Jesus name, Amen.