Seven ways to overcome sin
We are in a constant battle with our spirit and our flesh, and the flesh too often wins. The problem is that we are not prepared for battle. In a real-life battle, some kind of armor is present, there are other soldiers supporting us, an emergency evacuation strategy is in place, and we have a main objective. If a physical battle requires all of this, why do we think a spiritual battle requires so little?
1) Give Your Life to Jesus
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
God is perfect and holy, and we are not. No matter the good we may try to do, it’s like filthy rags compared to the glory of God. The only thing that makes us right with God is Jesus. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life and took on the punishment (death) that we deserve, saving us from separation from God (hell), and providing a way back to God (eternal life).
You can pray this prayer today and invite Jesus to come into your life: “Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins and ask for your forgiveness. I believe that you are the Son of God. I believe you died for my sins, rose from the dead, and offer eternal life through grace and faith in you. I invite you to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my Lord and Saviour. Help me to do so. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
If you prayed this prayer, all your sins are forgiven, God sees Jesus’ perfect life when He looks at you, and you are now a child of God! Even though your sins are forgiven, you will still struggle to resist sin every day, but now you have the power of the Holy Spirit living in you to help you overcome!
2) The Word of God
Jesus said, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
This verse indicates how important the Bible is for believers. Our spiritual survival depends on it. The Word provides the way God wants us to live, the way that is better for our souls. Scripture is also a weapon we can use to fight against temptation towards anything. One verse I find particularly powerful in my own struggles is this: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Jesus recited scripture when Satan was tempting Him in the desert. You can also use scripture to remind yourself what is true, when the enemy is feeding you lies.
3) Prayer
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6).
When we pray, God is able to bring us a peace beyond understanding no matter what our circumstances may be. In his book, My Name is Hope, John Mark Comer states, “Prayer changes reality. Prayer moves the hand of God.” Even though God knows our hearts, what we need, and the words on our lips before we speak them, He still wants us to come to him. This is because God delights in us (Zephaniah 3:17). The King also wants us to depend on him, not ourselves, for everything, including overcoming sin.
4) Accountability
“Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” (James 5:16).
There have been times in my life that I have not been able to overcome sin through just the above-mentioned things alone. It is only when I have brought to light what I have been hiding in the dark by confessing my sin to trusted female friends, that I have found any victory. These women not only came alongside me through prayer but kept me accountable by asking the hard questions. It was also so encouraging to know that the things I was struggling with, they struggled with too. They understood. I did not need to feel the shame I was feeling.
5) Worship
“Let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28).
Gratitude is a form of worship as is praying, reading and reflecting on God’s Word. Singing is also a form of worship. “Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!” (Acts 16:25-26). If worship can cause physical prison doors to open and chains to fall, worship can also cause spiritual victories over sin to occur! Nothing is impossible for God (Luke 1:37)!
6) The Armor of God
“Put on the whole armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes ... stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:11-18).
It’s pretty incredible that our King provides the heavenly armor we need to defeat spiritual darkness. Ephesians talks about knowing the truth in order to avoid being deceived, being made right with God through faith in Jesus and devoting your life to Him, which includes turning away from anything displeasing to God. This is to keep us safe and from stumbling. Always be willing to share the gospel and give a reason for the hope that you have and believe in the power of God — for without faith it is impossible to please God. The blessed hope of our salvation and the living and active Word of God protects and transforms our minds and hearts. Prayer, another armor of God mentioned above, is our lifeline to God and able to bring peace beyond comprehension.
7) Freedom Session
“For you were called to freedom, brothers; so then do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Romans 6:7).
Counselling can be very beneficial, but it can also be expensive and last years. Freedom session (https://freedomsession.com) is a course I have taken in which I have found freedom from unforgiveness, shame, and not feeling like I was good enough. I have learned how to forgive others and myself through this course. There was a broken friendship I had prior to taking this course that I thought I would never find healing from, but this course brought a freedom from guilt and pain I did not think was possible to experience. If we are hurting, there is a greater temptation to indulge in sin in an attempt to ease our pain, thus, becoming a slave to sin again. However, anytime we find healing from pain, we are experiencing a glimpse of heaven where one day there will be no pain (Revelation 21:4). Healing can destroy negative habits we have yet to be able to break.
May the above suggestions help you to walk about in freedom as you continue to live God’s way — His better way (Psalm 119:45).