Temptation : Why Can't I Say No?نموونە

HOW DO I FIX THIS PROBLEM?

God has given us several means of Grace via His Word, His Grace, and His people.

GOD'S WORD: Knowing God's word is critical because it changes our thought patterns. People need to know that the Word does its work through the Word. We are transformed by the renewing of the mind. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Through the mind (beliefs/thoughts) we reach the affections of our heart, instincts, and emotions, and that in turn will reshape our thinking. So, it is not human striving but allowing the Word of God to reshape our beliefs and thoughts which influence how we feel and behave.

GOD'S GRACE is always sufficient. He will not allow us to be tempted more than we are able to resist. His grace is empowering and gives us the strength to say no to sin and yes to godly living. Titus tells us that the Grace of God that has appeared to all men teaches us to say no to ungodliness. Those who call this legalism have not understood grace.

GOD'S PEOPLE. We are not called to live in isolation but in community. There are so many ‘one-another’ verses in the New Testament. We are told to confess our sins one to another so that we might experience healing. Having someone you can be accountable to can help keep you on the straight and narrow.

GODLY DESIRES. We also need to change our appetites. If you have eaten junk food all your life you will not know how good gourmet food is till you have experienced it. When I decided to give up sugar in my tea and coffee it took several months before I began to enjoy it. Now I dislike coffee or tea with sugar in it because my appetite or my taste has changed. It is the same with habits. We do enjoy our sin till we begin to cultivate a new appetite and then the old sin will not be enjoyable anymore.

So it is quite simple. What we feed our minds with will fuel our behaviour. Is it the world or the Word?

FROM REPENTANCE TO RENEWAL - WHAT DOES RENEWING THE MIND LOOK LIKE?

Renewing involves removing and replacing.

RECOGNIZE – First, we need to recognize or acknowledge the area of sin we are struggling with. What beliefs have helped the sin stay in my life?

REPENT– Realize that your sin breaks the heart of God. Seek His forgiveness and decide to change what you believe and do.

REPLACE – You cannot leave that space in a vacuum. Replace your beliefs and thoughts with the Word of God and find new patterns of behaviour or responses to situations. It will take time and you might slip into old habits but don’t worry. A step each day is 365 steps in a year! If you read James carefully, he gives you the clue in v21. God speaks to us and saves us through His Word. The Holy Spirit may remind you of His word while you pray. In Ephesians we are told that we attack every flaming dart of the evil one with the Sword of the Spirit, the word of God. In Romans, we are told to renew our minds by soaking them in the WORD.

RENEW – When you replace your beliefs and thoughts a renewed cycle of behaviour will be easier to follow.

REFLECTIONS

Do you have a community of Christ followers with whom you can be transparent about your struggles? If not pray and ask God to lead you to a few people that you can be close friends with and who will stand with you in your trials and temptations.