If God has the power to create me, why He doesn’t have the power to remake me? Why do I keep struggling with the same sin? Why can’t God change me so I don’t want to do this?
Let’s begin with three simple words and how they relate to sin in a follower of Jesus. (I am in debt to my mentor, Keith Drury, for these concepts.)
- CAPACITY – every human being has a moral responsibility to choose obedience to God over sin. As long as you and I live in this world we will have the ability to sin. That’s why the recovering addict must constantly fight to remain sober. (Addicts are not the only ones who fight against sin. However, their struggles with addictive behaviors reveal sin’s power to control and to destroy a person’s life.)
- INCLINATION – each individual has a unique mix of sins that he or she is prone to do. God’s grace is strong enough to help us overcome even “the sin that so easily entangles” us (Hebrews 12:1 NIV). That’s why an addict who’s been sober for a long time does not want to go back to his or her addiction.
- PRACTICE – it’s the doing of sin that disrupts our relationships with God and each other. God’s grace is strong enough to forgive our sins and to deliver us from the practice of sin. That’s why an addict can recover and remain sober for years.
What do these three words have to do with your struggle with the old sins? I’m glad you asked. You will always struggle against temptation in this life. God will not release you from that battle until you follow Jesus into heaven. Your struggle against the sins you are prone to do will be even more intense. But you can win with God’s help. He can make you so sick of the sin it loses its appeal. Finally, God’s grace can keep you from sinning. His grace can help you keep on choosing to obey God.
Victory over sin and temptation is not instantaneous or automatic. It takes time and hard work on your part, just ask a recovering addict. So, confess your sins, your frustrations and your need for God’s help. Keep fighting and never give up. God’s grace is sufficient. You will overcome.
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I grew up a son of a baptist pastor. when I was 24 I was introduced to methadone from a friend. Unaware of the power that it could have over my life, I slowely took more and more until it got to the point that when i was unable to get anymore I would go through serious withdrawel symptoms. It only took a year and I was seeking treatment to a methadone clinic. I am now 32 and still receive a daily dose of methadone with the goal to slowely come off of it and be free from the addiction for good. It has destroyed my families finances and within 4-6 weeks we could end up losing our four children due to my drug use and my wife’s mental health issues which I try to take responsibility for. I consider myself a luke-warm christian and that frightens me because of what God says about that. I want so badly to free myself from these sins but I continue to make bad choices. I am in need of prayer and I need to open my eyes to what God can do for my life and for my family.
Let me offer you a couple thoughts. First, as hard and impossible as beating this addiction may seem to be, God is able to help you. Jesus said, “All things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27) Paul wrote that God is able to do immeasurably more than we even dare to dream. (Ephesians 3:20) These are not empty words or pie in the sky by and by fantasies. They are promises you can cling to when you feel like giving up. Hang on to them as you fight for your freedom from your addiction.
Second, here’s my prayer for you. May God’s Holy Spirit comfort you and yours. May He fill your hearts with confidence in His love and power. May He help you all to fall in love with Jesus. Amen.
Please let me know how your battle goes. I will be praying for you and your family.
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