Hi everyone,
I was just wondering how do you stop sinning? How can you get more willpower to stop sinning? What do you all do to stop yourselves when you feel tempted to sin?
Thank you
That is a good and frequent question. The answer is painful and in many instances not welcome. In other words, we don’t want to expend the effort it really takes tho we do wishfully want to stop.
I guess what I’m saying is that it depends on how badly we really want to stop or if it is just a wistfull idea. Because it does take determination and courage, as well as a lot of fortitude, and also overcoming a good deal of doubt. I think that this is the first step in overcoming a particular sin which plagues a person, to be willing to put forth real effort and thought.
So the question is really answered with a question. How much am I willing to shovel out in pain and sacrifice?
The second part is: understanding that it is God that will overcome this sin for me, and not really myself. It is something like the story of David and Golliath. David, a young boy, had no chance at all against this giant. And David knew that, and yet fearlessly attacked the giant knowing he would win because God would do it for him. And because of this reliance on God, he won, or rather God won for him. It is this humility and trust in God which will win every time, and this lack of humility and trust which results in defeat.
Next question is: how do I get God on my side to overcome my sinful enemies who are giants?
The same way David did it, thru humility (knowing God is the reason for victory, not yourself), and thru reliance (absolute trust in his strength, not your own).
And this humility is accomplished by PRAYER, knowing that it is only thru prayer that we acknowledge God’s all saving greatness, and thru lack of prayer we tell God (pride) that we are very capable of ourselves alone to the job and we don’t need his help (lack of trust).
Now if this is the case, then we must be like David, and have a good study flow of prayer every day. And to miss that good flow of prayer for one day might spell defeat for a time because we did not have the power of God on our side that day to defeat the giant. So that means we dare not miss for any reason because then we lose our power.
This is vital, really vital, so vital I cannot not adequately put it in words. And the devil, Golliath, will play any trick, and tell any lie, to seperate you away from your praying. For he knows where your power comes.
After a while, God will then lead you to want to do some self denial, because he wants to bring you closer to him.
Be at peace.
“Jesus you are the power, you triumph over sin and death.” (hymn)
