Most Understanding Lord, my human nature often leads me into occasions of sin. You know each situation and judge me based on the difficulties I face in overcoming it. What matters most to You is my sincerity and perseverance in overcoming each temptation. Before I can ever subdue my weaknesses, I must want to change them. If I sincerely seek Your help, I am confident that I will get it. I cannot shed the shackles of sin and self without Your help. Change takes time and I must be patient and persistent if I want to succeed. After each failure, I must ask for forgiveness, pick myself up and try once again. This process helps train my flesh to yield to Your will. And, if I hang in there, I have Your assurance that I will win my freedom from sin. My failures cure any illusions that I may have about my abilities and teaches me to depend on You.
Sin and my fallen nature make depraved partners. The pledge of my life to You requires that I give up whatever endangers my relationship with You, my success in running my race, and interferes with the working of the Holy Spirit in my life. To be successful in whatever I do, I must keep my eyes fixed on You. If I look away, even for a moment, from You to focus on myself or my circumstances, I will surely stumble and fall. If I am living for You, I must always keep You and Your will in my sight. Experiencing difficulties and enduring trials are the training grounds that I must go through in order to grow in faith and mature. Perseverance and patience help me overcome and makes the final victory sweet. My greatest failure is to think that I’ve arrived and become content when there is more work required to get me where You want me to be.
I must accept that I cannot rely on my will and strength to overcome sin, even in my best moments. Nor do I need to despair when I fail knowing that my offenses will be forgiven and I’ll be given more chances to get it right. If I choose to follow sin, I will become a slave of darkness. But, if I choose to follow You, I will be able to walk freely in the light. Your Word contains these comforting words for me … “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not count against him.” You intended all along that I experience joy as I acknowledge my sins, admit my guilt and seek forgiveness. If I receive forgiveness with a desire to turn my back on sin, it will no longer have control over me. Nor must I give in to the deception that my sin is too big to forgive. And, I cannot forget that where sin is strong, grace is stronger. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
Romans 5:20 But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.