Many Christians become stuck in sin patterns and have little hope breaking free. This can lead to deep guilt, shame, and discouragement. In this three-day plan, you will begin a journey toward overcoming habitual sin by getting to the root of the issues through the power of Christ. Join us today.
Plan provided by Ben Bennett and Resolution Movement.
Day 1
Scriptures: Genesis 3:8-10, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 John 1:9
You’re Not Alone
Genesis is a book of beginnings. It describes the beginning of the world and the beginning of humankind’s sad struggle with sin. After Adam and Eve’s act of disobedience, their hearts were affected. So were ours. We follow their story and take many of the same turns they did straight out of the garden. Like them, we are often tempted to disobey God when sin makes offers it can’t fulfill and promises it can’t keep. And again, like them, we default to hiding—from God and others—when we feel shame for our choices.
Hide-and-seek makes for a fun game when you’re a child. However, constantly hiding, day-in and day-out, to cover shame is no way to live. It can be incredibly lonely. But that’s what habitual sin often does. It leaves us feeling ashamed and alone. We think no one else struggles the way we do and that God is somewhere far away and angry with us. Both the idea that we are the only ones who struggle and the idea that God is far away and angry are harmful lies the enemy uses to keep us stuck in habitual sin. Let’s look at two truths to combat these lies.
First, you are not the only one who struggles with sin. Whether it’s lying, pride, lust, anger, envy, coping through food, drugs, or alcohol, everyone struggles with something. We all need the grace and forgiveness of God. The enemy lies to us, telling us that we are alone in our struggles; this often causes us to hide and isolate. The enemy wants you to struggle alone because he knows what happens when sin comes to the light. Bringing a sin struggle to a trusted friend or community can be one way we loosen sin’s power over our lives. Friends and mentors can offer prayer, accountability, and encouragement to help us overcome.
Second, God is not far away and angry when we sin. As Christians, we may deal with sin and temptation, but we are still children of God. Just like any good father, God doesn’t turn His back on us when we’ve made a wrong choice. As the Good Father, He meets His prodigal children again and again when we return, and He offers us grace. Our Father is kind, so run to Him when you struggle with habitual sin. He is not far from you.
Thought of the Day: When I feel tempted to hide my sin or isolate in shame, I will remember God’s character and the truth of His Word. I will reach out to Him and trusted friends for loving support. The enemy’s lies have been exposed, and I won’t hide anymore!
Day 2
Scriptures: Matthew 4:1-4, Romans 7:14-25, Psalms 37:4-5
Why We Do What We Don’t Want to Do
Icebergs can serve as good metaphors for the complexity of habitual sin and unwanted behaviors. You typically only see a fraction of an iceberg’s actual mass when you look on the surface, but when you look underneath, you’re likely to see something many times the size of the mass that’s visible above water. Something similar happens with our habitual sin and undesired behaviors. What looks like nothing more than a porn addiction, an unhealthy relationship with food, or a wrong mindset is actually just “the tip of the iceberg.” Beneath each sin and unwanted behavior is a deeper desire waiting to be met.
Our unwanted behaviors aren’t random; they’re signals to be answered. They point to deeper desires that are needing to be met. What Satan does is he uses our legitimate longings and desires as opportunities to lead us to sin. In Matthew 4 we read about the time Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Jesus had been fasting for forty days and forty nights, and Matthew tells us that He was very hungry. The enemy used Jesus’s natural hunger for food as an opportunity for temptation. Of course, Jesus stood against the devil’s schemes, and through His example, we can see how the enemy uses needs and desires to tempt us. We also see that there is a way to stand against these temptations when they come.
Maybe you’ve never noticed the connection between your unmet desires and your unwanted behaviors. Maybe now you’re beginning to see that you turn to porn to find pseudo-acceptance or love when you feel rejected or inadequate. Perhaps you’re noticing that you perform for the approval of others when you feel unwanted or unknown. Hardwired in you are good and right desires like the desire to be loved or to feel known. Many of us have been wounded by others in the past leading to deep, unfulfilled desires and longings. Sin distorts those desires and offers us counterfeit solutions to fulfilling them. The only way your God-given desires can truly be satisfied is through God and healthy relationships with others. Thankfully, He has given us His Son, His Spirit, and His Word to guide and empower us to the way of life, fulfilment, and relationship.
To help you discern the unmet desires that underlie your habitual sin, ask yourself these questions: 1) What habitual sin or unwanted behavior am I struggling with? 2) What unmet desires lead me to this sin or behavior? 3) What is one way I can experience fulfilment through my relationship with God and others today?
Thought of the Day: There is something underneath the surface of my habitual sin. Today, I will examine my heart and my desires and submit them to God. I will seek His will and His way to life, and I know that in Him, I will be truly satisfied.
Day 3
Scriptures: Galatians 5:1, John 8:36, Romans 8:1-2
Freedom Starts Today
Adults and children alike count down the days to Christmas and other holidays in eager expectation. Brides and grooms-to-be keep countdowns on their phones for “the big day.” Holidays, weddings, and other calendar-marking events can make us feel that some days are more special than others. There are the days you mark on your calendars and look forward to, and then there are all the rest: the days you go to school, or work, or stay home to take care of your children. Maybe today is one of those unassuming days. Just another day. Business as usual. But what if it isn’t? What if today is the day you take a step toward freedom and the rest of your life?
Freedom can start today. If you’ve dealt with habitual sin for a long time, you might think that freedom is out of reach, but one step today is one step closer to the life of freedom you are called to in Christ. As you embrace the truths in the last two days of this devotional, and take time to examine the root desires behind your unwanted behaviors, you are well on your way to freedom.
As we come to the end of this plan, take this tool with you: when you face the temptation to return to habitual sin, choose to connect—not cope. Connecting looks like seeking connection with God through Bible reading, prayer, or worship. It also looks like sharing what you’re struggling with, what desires are going unmet, and being encouraged through healthy people in your life. Coping looks like numbing your unmet desires with sinful habits and patterns like pornography or overeating. The physiological side effects of sin can cause your mind to crave specific coping mechanisms (i.e. porn, food, gaming, etc.). When you seek to connect instead of cope, your mind can be rewired and cause you to crave new, life-giving things.
You may not realize this, but you were created on purpose for a purpose. Your sin might make you feel broken and messed up, but you are the handiwork of God. God has a plan for you. As you walk free from sin patterns and destructive behaviors, you’ll begin to see that plan come together—for God’s glory and your flourishing. You don’t have to wait another day to walk in purpose and freedom. Today is the day. Freedom starts now.
Thought of the Day: Today may not be a holiday, but it’s still a special day. Today, I am taking a step toward freedom. With God’s help, this step will be followed by many more. God is leading me towards His purposes for my life, and I am ready to follow.