Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
—Romans 7:24- 25
Many people believe that once you become a Christian, the desire to sin naturally disappears or that temptation to commit sin will only rarely trouble you. Nothing could be further from the truth. As Jesus warned in Matthew, our spirits are willing, but our flesh is weak. Perhaps we expect daily struggles, but what happens if you have one specific sin you can’t seem to shake?
This happens to more Christians than you might think. Some come to the faith with serious addictions, whether to drugs, alcohol, sex or food. Others have less obvious sins that are just as dangerous, such as a tendency to blow up in anger when frustrated. Still others develop small issues over time— “just one time” becomes a craving for sinful behavior. Most Christians will try to solve the problem on their own, usually through legalistic behavior, and end up miserable.
Paul understood this trouble well. In Romans 7, he explains that he constantly does what he knows is wrong, even though he strives not to. He cries out for rescue, just as we should. If you have a longstanding addiction or other form of sin you can’t get rid of, drawing close to God is your best hope.
However, drawing close to God does not simply mean reading the Bible, praying more and participating in more church activities. In fact, that strategy often turns into checking things off a list. God never meant for you to battle a sinful nature alone. Some people need counseling, church support or simply a plan of action, written down, to hold themselves accountable. Finally, go to your prayer closet for some self-inspection
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