We all face many battles, some on a daily basis.
Whether it is battling to stay clean / sober, trying to avoid porn / infidelity, struggling to say no to things / working too much, suffering from over / comfort eating or finding yourself hooked on social media / seeking others approval…the same techniques and principles can help. But be of good cheer!…
“There are simple things you can do today, that help you win the war tomorrow!”
How good would it be to *know* that tomorrow’s (or next week’s) battle can be won today?!
It’s true, something that any war general would give his right arm for, can be yours….
Keys:
1) Know your battleground
Take stock of where you are and what your issue is. If you’re like me, there will be a few (or even many!) areas that need attention – that is fine. But pick the one that you want to deal wth first. Start with something easy if you like, or go for the one that know really needs to be gone. But just deal with one.
If you think you don’t have anything that needs change: read your Bible (more!). 1Reading the law of God highlights how holy and perfect He is – and how filthy and far away from that we are. We are all born into and steeped in sin. Our hearts naturally rebel against God and serve ourselves – don’t worry, there will be many areas where your actions are reprehensible to God, even if you are blind to them at the moment!
2) Decide if you *really* want it gone
Often, we don’t want to be addicted or under the control of something. We may not like the guilt or the consequences of a particular action / cycle, but we may actually still want to hang on to the action for whatever reason…
It may help us feel good when otherwise we would be sad / depressed / rejected, which means the action is our way of medicating. Maybe it helps use cope (a crux). Maybe we like the way we feel when people compliment us for the work / task we have done, or maybe we get out of obligations due to our ‘condition’.
Whatever the case, an honest assessment, some real soul searching are required – otherwise it will be a futile venture. If you don’t want said action gone, if you are hanging on to it for whatever reason, you will need to address this first. It will often be a false belief (ie these drugs help me), learned during earlier painful experiences. As humans, we are often looking for ways to cope or deal with trauma.
3) Ask God to change your heart
No matter what you find in #2 above, God can bring you to a place of total healing and transformation. Metamorphosis. A new beginning – but not just in one area.
God loves to transform us daily into the very image of His Son. This area needs the primary focus of our attention, effort, time and focus, otherwise it will just be us trying to harder to fight our evil nature. Most of us know how futile that is! We need supernatural help…
Let me say it again: We need to put our time and energy into God transforming us.
Often the things we turn to (and want to move away from) are considered sin towards God. That means that we need to turn away from these things – but again, it is more than *just* us trying to turn away… 2Galatians 5:18-25 (NLT) 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
Results of the Sinful Nature
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Fruit of the Spirit
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Follow the Spirit’s Leading
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 3 Romans 2:29 (NLT) 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people. 4Romans 2:5-11 (NLT) 5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done. 7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. 9 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism. 51 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NLT) 9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. 11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
4) Kill the option
For each action, the helpful strategy will be different. There will however, be something that requires a decision…a removal of the *option*. More accurately, it will be the death of the option – that is the very root of the word ‘decide’. (Ie genocide, insecticide etc – ‘decide’ means “to kill the option”).
‘decide’ means “to kill the option”
If you are an over-eater, do you need to have healthy meals pre-prepared? Do you need to remove all chocolate / junk food from your house? If you have a weakness online, do you need to get rid of your computer? Or at the very least, do you need to install a filter that you can not disable – that emails your pastor / dad or friend if you try to circumvent? If you are coming down, not wanting to use again, do you need to give your wallet to someone? Book into a rehab? If you are a workaholic, do you need to rehearse saying no? If you have lustful thoughts about a child…
There are differing methods, consequences and severities for each – but be aware, the sin is killing you. Look how the Bible words it:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)
“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.”
Genesis 4:7 (NLT)
Sin is serious! Serious enough in fact that Jesus Himself said this:
“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands. 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.’
49 “For everyone will be tested with fire.”Mark 9:43-49 (NLT)
In the world that Jesus spoke to, having a hand or foot cut off was a death sentence… You could’t work, earn a living or survive. But that is nothing compared to your soul being bored in hell!
Treat your sin as serious – REPENT! Jesus has paid the price, is the only Answer and remedy for sin.
Lord, please bring your conviction to all of our hearts – that we would hate what You hate and love what You love. Help us to take the steps to move away from our actions that offend You (and the love of it), so we would not sin against You.
Footnotes:
- 1Reading the law of God highlights how holy and perfect He is – and how filthy and far away from that we are. We are all born into and steeped in sin. Our hearts naturally rebel against God and serve ourselves – don’t worry, there will be many areas where your actions are reprehensible to God, even if you are blind to them at the moment!
- 2Galatians 5:18-25 (NLT) 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
Results of the Sinful Nature
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Fruit of the Spirit
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Follow the Spirit’s Leading
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. - 3Romans 2:29 (NLT) 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.
- 4Romans 2:5-11 (NLT) 5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done. 7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. 9 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.
- 51 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NLT) 9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. 11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.