The Divine Cure
The solution to a sinful habit is very practical.
It takes a habit to break a habit. You can pray every day for a generous heart, but until you start acting in that direction, nothing’s going to change. (Andy Stanley)
A Key to Victory
Our lives will never change while we’re resisting Jesus’ will. Instead we’ll only sink deeper into slavery. A sinful habit is only destroyed when we start following the Lord’s leading.
This principle is found in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.
Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need. (Ephesians 4:28 RSV)
A thief’s heart is greedy and self-centered; sometimes even violent. Thieves feel entitled to take everyone else’s stuff. After stealing for a few years, it’s almost impossible for a robber to struggle free from his or her sinful mindset.
So what’s the cure? Start doing the opposite action.
- Stop stealing from others..
- Earn a paycheck by doing something honest.
- Start giving a portion of your paycheck away to others who are in need.
In Christian circles in the United States, we call this a flesh-burner. Because the thief’s emotions will be screaming at him not to do it. But this process works. If the former thief keeps doing regular acts of generosity, he or she will over time become a joyfully generous person.
My Spiritual Point
Check out Ephesians 4:22-32 for more examples of this principle. As we break sinful habits and substitute godly ones, we’re renewing our minds.
If we pray and ask God to help us break free of a sin, He’ll answer our prayer. But don’t be surprised if the Holy Spirit suggests something new for you to do.
This image came from Pixabay.com.
