Overcoming sin isn't about willpower alone. The Holy Spirit transforms your nature while you handle the daily work: prayer, Bible reading, relying on God even when you fail. Cling to the Lord consistently and sinful cravings weaken over time.
Overcoming sin is easier than you think. Now, to be clear, I don't in any way mean to dismiss the struggle you might be facing, nor do I want to discourage you in causing you to think that there's some group of Christians out there who have this all figured out. I want to encourage you by helping you to remember that while you're working on discipline over self, the Holy Spirit is working on the transformation of your very nature. So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The key to overcoming sin? Surrender to the Holy Spirit as opposed to striving against self. So how does this look practically? Now, I know this may sound basic, and you've likely heard this before, but here's the thing. You invite the Holy Spirit to work in your life through daily prayer and the Word. You have to pick up your Bible even on days when you fail. You have to pray even on days when you feel too guilty to approach God. Rely on Him. Lean on His strength through daily time in prayer and the Word. Don't give it up for anything. Then, as you fight to overcome sinful cravings, the Holy Spirit goes to work on the root issue. And over time, you'll sense the sinful lure weaken. The key is to just cling to the Lord daily. Don't miss your appointments with God. The struggle will go from impossible to just possible enough. To learn more about the ministry of the Holy Spirit, get Holy Spirit: God Within You at encounterthespirit.com.
