Don’t let sin get ahead of you

My physical therapist called it chronic pain. I hadn’t really gone there because…well, most days I dealt with it. It was “normal”. But last summer, I went to physical therapy twice a week and learned how to change the way I treated my body.

Instead of “protecting” the pained area so it wouldn’t get worse, I was moving! And for the first time in a long time, I was relatively pain free. I could do things I hadn’t done since I couldn’t remember when. I could actually sprint for a short distance and not be in pain! For me, that was huge.

In addition, a significant portion of my struggle stemmed from inflammation through my diet. While I was accountable to my physical therapist, I paid close attention to my diet as well, intending to make the most of my money. I knew that the taste for the moment was not worth the pain it brought on.

As long as I continued moving and eating well, felt great. I maintained my ability to move and even how well I handled injury. I took a fall that previously would have done me in for a while but I walked away barely feeling the effects.

However, after leaving physical therapy, I slowly let up my guard on how I took care of my body. I gradually decreased how much I moved each day and how well I ate. And I found myself in more pain again.

I had allowed my pain to get ahead of me. And now I’m hard at work to get back ahead of it. And I intend to stay there.

Sin is a lot like pain.

As long as we are on guard against it…

As long as we stay spiritually healthy and strong…

             …exercising our spiritual muscles.

                           …feeding on the Word.

                                         As long as we stay accountable to those who can help us.

                                                           As long as we cry out to the Father to deliver us.

                                                                        As long as we submit to God and resist the devil.

As long as we take every thought captive.

We can keep ourselves unstained by the world.

We can walk in the freedom Christ died in order for us to have.

We can have unbroken fellowship with the Father.

But once sin gets ahead of us…

              …one thought…

                        …one word…

                                  …one action…

                                               …at a time…

                                                         Sin grows and takes over.

We get entangled and it’s hard to run the race.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)

Be on the alert. Stand guard. Put on the whole armor of God.

Stay ahead of sin and run the race well.

But if you get entangled, know that you have a heavenly Father who has a way for you to return to unbroken fellowship with Him.

If addiction, wrong thinking, and patterns of this world have gotten the best of you:

Stand by and look for the ancient paths: “This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.  Jeremiah 6:16a (NIV)

Do what you did in the beginning: “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”

Revelation 2:5a (NIV)

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…Jeremiah 30:15

And find community to grow with. Community is made up of those who provide strength, are co-laborers on your journey, offer encouragement and provide accountability for you to stay unentangled.

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV)

I pray to Almighty God on your behalf, that you might be strengthened and encouraged in your fight against sin. That you will realize His mercies that are new every morning.That He will reveal Himself to you more and more each day as you look for Him. And that may you see the hand of our Father acting on your behalf. I ask the Father in the name of Jesus!

Stand strong dear friend. Don’t grow weary in the fight. The same power that rose Jesus

from the grave resides in you. The battle has already been won!