Think back to a decision you made recently that didn’t honor God. Maybe in the moment the choice “felt right” or you were just “following your heart”. Our “feelings” can easily trick us into doing things that don’t align with God’s will and make us wonder, “Why do I seem to do what I know is wrong?”
Romans 7: 18-19 (NLT) ”18And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.”
And the world encourages us to follow our hearts, but our hearts can be very deceitful.
Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT) “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?”
This makes it clear that the heart is part of our sinful nature and that it plays a role in our sin. I am sure we have all done things that we regret, and I’m sure there are stories in our lives that we would like to rewrite or even chapters we would prefer to erase, and with God’s help we can live a life that honors Him.
First, remember, while we were still sinners, Jesus came and died for us (Romans 5:8). This is not because we deserve it, but because God always desired it. So, if you don’t know Jesus, the first step you can take to overcome sin is to take Jesus on as your Savior through baptism.
Secondly, you can ask Him to renew your mind and transform your life.
Romans 12:2 (NLT) “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Finally, ask God for wisdom to search your heart.
James 1:5 (NLT) “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”
It is easy to fall into the routine of forgetting and forsaking God. But we can still choose whether or not to continue in sin. We can concede to a specific temptation, or we can ask God to help us resist the temptation when it comes. We can only change when we allow God to change us.
