Everything you need to know to stop falling again into the same sin
The Bible makes it clear that we’re all tempted, and temptations come in all shapes and sizes. The real issue is not in having the urge to sin or not feeling holy enough. What needs to be assessed is how we deal with the thoughts and the urge that come before temptation. And if we keep falling, we must know how to get back up.
Everything starts before the act is committed. When we let those thoughts stay in our minds and act on temptation instead of fleeing it, then it becomes a sin. Soon, that sin becomes a habit, then a lifestyle and eventually we find ourselves in a dangerous place pushing God away.
That’s one of the most dangerous areas a Christian can be in because we can find it hard to get back up. It takes strength and maturity to allow God to straighten our path. In fact, because of a fall many turn away from God completely.
Know this, our fall and lack of self-control do not surprise God. He is all-knowing and knows our weaknesses. In fact, he knows our ending before we live it.
Psalm 139:4 says, “Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.”
This is how our desires and temptations start
Our desires derive from our hearts, good and bad. The Bible affirms us that our hearts cannot be trusted, which is why we can’t act on emotions. Many times, our desires cause us to act without analyzing the consequences.
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
Jeremiah 17:9
We each know what our heart longs for, our desires, and what gives us pleasure. If we don’t, this is the time to take a self-assessment and look back at times we’ve acted against the word of God.
Let’s look back at a time when we felt what we thought were “butterflies” in our stomachs or when our minds started creating scenarios that were evil or sinful. Look at those times when we’ve followed our hearts and were deceived because our actions were not backed up by scripture – those are the scenes we want to look for. Being self-aware of our own temptations gives us a good starting point for our next encounter with it.
James 1:14-15 says, “but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
Here’s a list of desires and sins, according to the Bible.
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21
Identifying triggers that may cause you to sin or that keep you going back
We live life in moments, minute by minute. Sin does not grow in our lives unless a seed is first planted. While we know a desire is conceived in our heart, it’s our mind that thinks on how to act on it.
Our mind has around 60,000 thoughts per day, according to studies. Within those thoughts, we are bound to think of what our heart wants. The second those ungodly thoughts hit our brains, it’s our responsibility as righteous people to put them under God’s authority.
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5
Let’s repeat that: “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” We don’t use our strength to stop thinking of evil desires because we don’t have any power. It’s through God’s strength that those thoughts are removed from our minds.
Entertaining Sin
We should not entertain sin. It’s dangerous and carries consequences. We must not play around thinking that we’re strong enough to tease it and get the best of both worlds. While we may see it as just a thought, the devil doesn’t. The devil is looking for those he can devour, and when he sees his chance, he will take it and cause great destruction.
1 Corinthians 10:12 says, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”
If it’s a specific location, TV show, perfume, dream, drink, relationship, conversation, or virtual space that reminds us or causes us to sin in our hearts, then we must flee it. Just like Joseph did when he was seduced by the wife of Potiphar. ‘He ran out of the house’ says scripture. Those signals should act as warning signs for us.
2 Timothy 2:22 says “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
If we choose to ignore those warning signs, then we are choosing death, which is our original destination.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23
What happens if I keep falling into the same sin after being tempted?
Firstly, we quench the Spirit. When we extinguish the Spirit, we eventually become deaf to his voice. We begin grieving the Holy Spirit as he no longer speaks to us through our consciousness.
“Do not quench the Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 5:19
If we keep falling into the same sin, then we become part of the world, and the seal of redemption becomes less evident in our lives.
John 14:17 says, “the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
Our relationship with God begins to fade as it’s no longer our priority. Here’s when a lot of individuals give up on God and begin living for the world.
Read Part two: I keep falling into the same sin
Prayer for obedience and deliverance
Lord,
You are good and all-knowing. You know me entirely because you created me, and you even know what I will say before I say it. Right now, I’m struggling, I can’t think clearly because I’m fogged by the desires of my heart. I’ve sinned, with _. I surrender to your will and ask you to demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against your knowledge. Lord, take captive every thought to make it obedient to you. I can’t do this alone. I need you, and I need your voice to guide me once again. Help me to receive your free gift of salvation.
I ask you, Lord, to rebuke any form of delusion in my life, and the lies my heart tells me. I ask you to remove any state of depraved mind inside of me. Help me think of what’s true, noble, and pure. Help me live in truth and not delight in wickedness. When I’m faced with evil, be my strength as I flee from it. Heal the wounds inside of me caused by my own iniquities, and I ask you to pour your grace over me. Free me from my own heart that condemns me. I know you are greater than my heart and your grace now abounds in my life. Thank you, my God!