Wherever you are in your spiritual journey, you have undoubtedly experienced recurring sin. In most cases, we desire to change but are unable to defeat the sin that causes us to keep failing and filling us with shame. We want to walk you through scriptural truth and encouragement to help you become the person God created you to be.
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Day 1
Scriptures: Ephesians 2:1, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Romans 8:7, 2 Corinthians 5:17
Being real about the problem and solution
The reality is we are all broken and have been stuck in sin of some form. Satan is the master deceiver. He always lies about sin and the result is that it takes us further away from God than we imagined. The result is often frustration, guilt and shame.
This all starts with the sin nature we each have. The Bible describes our natural condition as “dead in sin and trespasses”. As a result of Adam’s fall into sin, man is born spiritually dead. In this state of spiritual death, we are unable and unwilling to fully obey God so habitual sin naturally follows.
However, when a person is saved, a transformation takes place. The apostle Paul refers to this as us becoming a new creation. From the moment we place our faith in Christ, we are in the process of changing. This process is called sanctification and it includes us being able to choose obedience to God over sin.
Day 2
Scriptures: Romans 8:29, Romans 7:15-25, Romans 12:2
Recognizing where we find help
Being saved does not mean we are never tempted or never sin again. We also can’t just rely on “tightening our moral belt” and willing ourselves into change. Odds are you have already tried that and failed. Paul describes this frustrating battle with sin as he admits that even though he desires to do what is good in the eyes of God, he often does what is evil instead. He does the evil he doesn’t want to do and fails to do the good that he wants to do. In this, he is describing every Christian’s struggle with sin.
The only way we can have lasting change is through Jesus. We ultimately are transformed by Him into a new person as we start to think differently. This is how we learn to handle temptation and live differently. It is not through changing our actions but through changing our thoughts. Changing our thoughts changes our feelings and ultimately our behavior. This is what is meant by scripture when it says you will be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This is the work of the Holy Spirit as He starts to transform you by changing the destructive thought patterns in your mind.
Day 3
Scriptures: Romans 6:11, Romans 6:17-18, Galatians 5:1, Romans 8:11, John 17:17, James 4:7-8
It all starts with true transformation
We start removing habitual sin by recognizing the transformation that has indeed taken place within us as believers. This allows us to start choosing something other than sin as we consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. This is a reminder that in coming to Christ, the power of sin has been broken in our lives. Paul uses the metaphor of slavery to make this point. We were at one time slaves to sin, but now we are slaves to righteousness. The power of sin was broken at the cross and, in becoming Christians, we are set free from sin’s mastery over us. Therefore, we no longer sin out of the necessity of our original nature, but because we have willfully submitted to sin’s dominion.
At the same time, we recognize our need to rely on the power of God’s Holy Spirit, who dwells within us, to overcome habitual sin. The Christian’s struggle against sin is one in which our ability does not match our desire. That is why we need the power of the Holy Spirit. And we have power through that same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead and who is now dwelling in us. The Holy Spirit, through God’s Word, is changing us as we submit ourselves to Him. This submission and being focused on God’s Word are what enable us to refuse the temptations of the flesh.
Day 4
Scriptures: Genesis 39:15, Matthew 5:29-30, Romans 5:20
Making changes and trusting God’s forgiveness
One of the ways Jesus changes us is to give us wisdom about what is driving us to sin in the first place. We begin the process of overcoming habitual sin by changing the habits that facilitate it. We have to adopt the attitude of Joseph who, when tempted by Potiphar’s wife to come to bed with her, left the room so quickly that he left his cloak in her hands. We must make every effort to run from the things that tempt us to sin, whether that is access to pornography if we are tempted to sexual sin, or being with people that lead us to make sinful choices. Jesus tells us to cut off our hand or pluck out our eye if they “offend” us. This means removing from our lives the things or people that tempt us to sin even when those are things we enjoy. In short, we have to change the habits that lead to habitual sin.
Another element is trusting the nature of God’s forgiveness. We may stumble and go back to old habits as we are trying to change. The enemy will want to use that to discourage us and make us think we are beyond forgiveness. The truth is God’s ability to forgive simply does not run out. Thankfully, God knows that we will fall, and His grace increases as sin increases. God is not going to give up or let you go. Begin by asking God for wisdom and identifying the things that are leading to your habitual sin. Then start addressing those, and you will begin to see God change your life.
Day 5
Scriptures: Romans 3:23-24, Romans 16:25, Galatians 3:1-3, Philippians 1:6
Staying strong in God’s Word
Finally, we need to stay grounded in truth through God’s Word. We are reminded that we have all sinned and fall short, but we are justified and saved through God’s grace found in Jesus Christ. We encourage you to immerse yourself in the truth of the Gospel. The Gospel is not only the means by which we are saved, but it is also the means by which we are sanctified. If we think we are saved by grace, but sanctified by our own efforts, we fall into error. The Gospel reminds us that sanctification is as much a work of God as justification. This is a process, and the promise we have from scripture is that He who began a good work in us will complete it on the last day.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your son Jesus and Your undying love. May each person who goes through this plan find forgiveness in Jesus, hope in Your Word and rest in Your grace. Help them trust the Holy Spirit to start identifying broken thought patterns and identifying areas of life that have led to sin. May they trust Your promises and move closer to You in order to change those things that lead to sin and refuse temptation. I pray this all in Jesus beautiful name. Amen.