Day 19: Tackling Sin
Today we move our focus to this part of the Lord’s prayer:
“And lead us not into temptation…”
Much of today’s Soul Workout is adapted from The Cure by John Lynch, Bruce McNicol, and Bill Thrall.
We know that God does not tempt us and being tempted is not a sin. Our prayer is that we would never be tempted but our desires betray us. That said, temptation can play a unique role in the cycle of sin—it’s actually the key to overcoming it…
Warm Up:
Write down what stands out to you in the this prayer:
Pray James 1:13-15—God, when I am tempted, I won’t say, “God is tempting me.” For You cannot be tempted by evil, and You never tempt me. I am tempted when I am dragged away by my own evil desire and enticed. Then, after I have given myself permission to act, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to my death.
Round 1:
Consider the downward spiral of sin’s attack. Which one are you most familiar with?
Building defenses.
Thinking unhealthy thoughts (limiting beliefs, lies).
Being tempted.
Trying to resist temptation.
Hiding desires and secrets.
Acting out.
Withdrawing from others.
Justifying behavior and choices.
Blaming people and circumstances.
Losing hope.
Round 2:
Consider how sin works. Which one stands out to you?
Sin always promises to deliver pleasure.
I will become addicted to that pleasure.
The addiction to this pleasure is incredibly destructive.
The result is—in one form or another—death.
Round 3:
consider the nature of sin in you. Which one is most insightful to you?:
Whenever I think I’m in control of sin, it is, in fact, controlling me.
The power of sin is not when I act out. It’s when I give myself permission to act out.
This is not simply a choice to act on temptation. It is a choice to dishonor God. I am saying, “God, I know this is wrong and I’m going to do it anyway. And You can’t stop me because I’m in control.”
Once I choose to hide, or go it alone, I have also decided I will use someone or something else to satisfy my desire.
All unresolved sin issues are buried alive in me.
Addictive behaviors are far-reaching. Apart from medical and physiological issues, they can express themselves in mood swings, depression, substance abuse, lying, spending, unhealthy attention-seeking, anger, manipulation, gambling, unforgiveness, unrepentance, gossip…the list is long.
If, at any stage of this cycle, I choose to hide and not disclose my struggle, the next step in the cycle is inevitable.
Unhealthy thoughts about myself (limiting beliefs and lies) fuel the entire cycle.
Burn Out:
level up by breaking the cycle of sin:
There’s good news . There’s a way to stop the cycle. You can tell another what is going on inside before it happens. And the moment you tell someone, with the motive of giving up control, the cycle can stop. Light shines on the madness, the rationalization, the pain, and the damage—and it can stop.
The control cycle can be broken when we choose to tell another.
You may need to break the cycle several times on a given day, but the power to break the cycle is no less. In fact, choosing to tell someone each time the cycle repeats can teach us to depend and trust on God and the love of another that much more.
Pray: Lord, teach me to confess the sin I intend to commit rather than confessing the sin I’ve already carried out, with all the consequences it brings. Help me trust You with my struggles. Help me trust another with my struggles. This is living in the light. My identity in You allows me to see the truth without having to hide in fear that failure will define me or confirm I’m not enough. (See Ephesians 5:8-14)
Show me the person I know now that I can trust to tell or bring this person into my life.
Empower me to tell this person in the first moment I recognize my vulnerability. Help me experience the beauty of being loved when another is allowed to meet my need with support. You created me with limitations so that I can experience love from others. Instead of pretending I’m “doing fine,” I will give others an opportunity to love all of me. Thank you that I can experience their love as I learn to share when I am vulnerable. (See Galatians 6:1-2)
Do you need to break the cycle today? Do it.