Victory is Found in Vigilance

Have you ever acted on a sinful thought and wondered how you could ever have behaved as you did? You know better, and you know you do.

However, it seems as though your knowledge of the action as absolute sin has lost its impact. No longer do you restrain your thoughts – humility and sensitivity to your sinful tendencies in your thoughts, and your conscience has lost its preventive influence. You no longer feel guilty when your thoughts remain focused on what you formerly hated, and fought hard to overcome. You entertained the thought believing you could control your actions. You stopped fighting the thought when it first started. Now, you rehearse the very thoughts you hated in your mind. You’ve allowed them to gain a foothold through rationalized arguments against restraint.

You believed you were in control. Now, you know you were not. You deceived yourself. It did not begin with an open argument between your old nature and your new one, nor with a challenge of putting off sin and putting on new habits, it began with a subtle diminishing of guilt through lack of sensitivity – you began to deny the power of your old nature. You began to deny the daily necessity of putting off sin. Pride, and yes arrogance are the root of any sinful actions.

Somewhere along the way you neglected the principles that caused you to discipline your life to stand and remain steadfast. Perseverance waned and you lost the focus of a disciplined mindset and life.

You’re in trouble. It’s time to stop and start anew.

It’s time to resolve to live differently. To discipline your mind anew. Remind yourself of Truth.

Remember Truth.

The New Year is as good a time as any to do so. A plan to change begins with your thoughts – what you think about and what you value.

Focus on the truths of Psalm 119. Cling to them. Pray and plead them to become your true, and changed mindset.

• Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law! I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me. I cling to your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame! I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart! Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared. Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good. Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life! Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules. I will keep your law continually, forever and ever, and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts. I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love. I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes (Psalm 119:29-48).

#sin #victory #truth