Overcoming Habitual Sins

The word ‘sin’ when loosely defined from Scripture means ‘Transgression of God’s laws’. Though man was created in the image of God, yet because of his fall, sin came into this world. And all men are dead in their sins (Rom 3:10). Even after being regenerated by God, Christians commit sin. But we know that God is infinitely Holy and righteous. Even the least of the sins which we do, is considered as a serious violation in God’s laws. Yet there is a particular type of sin which is more dangerous than the rest of them. That is habitual sins. Habitual sins are the type of sins where we tend to do a sinful activity regularly without any willingness to come out of it. These sins can be anything like occasional lying, getting angry for no reason, lustful eyes, drunkenness or love of money. C H Spurgeon once said regarding Habitual sins like this: 

“Habitual sins are like holes in a ship. Even the small holes can sink a giant ship”.

Habitual sins are dangerous because,

1)     One may not think that he is sinning in the first place. He may become too hardened to repent and may not be quickened by the Spirit.

2)      Even if he realises that he is sinning, still he would be indulging in that because he would be under the deception that he will get the ultimate satisfaction only through that sin. For example, Alcoholic addicts most often would know the harmful effects of it, yet they sin because of this deception.

What are the biblical ways of overcoming habitual sins?

1)      Repentance and Godly Sorrow:

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. (2Co 7:10)

Both believers and unbelievers commit sin. But the only difference between them is the genuine grief and sorrow which a believer will have for the sins which he has committed. This may look too basic for a believer. You could have been in the Lord for a long time. Still this is the primary step in overcoming habitual sin. Bible says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psa 51:17)”. So first we need to repent of the sins which we are committing habitually.

2)      Prayer:

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. (Mat 26:41)          

We cannot overcome habitual sins without prayer. Only by the power of God, we can overcome. Prayer is a means in which we can communicate to God our inability to be holy and blameless by ourselves. It is the way to show that we are only dependant on God for our salvation and our sanctification and denying of our own self. And Jesus promised this: And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." (Mat 21:22). God will teach us specific ways to overcome these sins.

3)      Meditation of God’s word:

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. (Psa 1:1-2)

The only way we can overcome sin is to think of whatever things which are praiseworthy and honourable (Phi 4:8). We can be victorious over our sins only if we know the precepts of God. Bible says “God’s people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hos 4:6)”. If we read Proverbs, the wise men are differentiated from foolish people not because of their IQ but because of their righteousness. So we need to think biblically all the time to overcome sins. Apart from our daily meditation of Scripture, we should be reading the word of God during our leisure time too. I find listening to audio Bible while having dinner very edifying instead of watch TV or a movie. Likewise each of us can find a way in which we can meditate Scripture.

4)      Fear of God:

"And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, (Deu 10:12)

The main reason why we sin is because we don’t have the fear of God. We don’t understand His attributes. We tend to take him for granted. We are not victims of habitual addictions but rather we are sinning because of our own wickedness. We forget that, “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. “(Heb 4:13). If we truly remember God as he is, then we would never do those ‘trivial’ sins which can cost our eternity. We should actively strive to think more about God’s character and His Holiness so that we would truly fear him and obey his commands.

5)      Discipline:

Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1Co 9:25-27)

We may have to redefine our lives to overcome habitual sins. We should make changes in such a way that the sin which we do regularly, should be made difficult to commit. If you expose your sin to light, then it would not do that again. If you are addicted to alcohol, you can start by doing simple things like not going through the street where they sell liquor. If internet is distracting you to commit lust, then it is better to cancel your internet connection or keep your computer in a common place. We should remember that it is better to enter into heaven without having used internet in our life, rather than going to hell because of it.

6)      Pleasure of doing God’s will:

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psa 16:11)

The reason why habitual sins thrive in our lives is because we tend to believe the time-tested lie of Satan that obedience to God will not satisfy our soul. But Bible says in so many places that only if we seek to obey God’s will, we would have ultimate happiness. John Piper puts that beautifully here: “God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in Him”.  We should learn to trust more in God and be content in the pleasure which He gives us willingly if we obey His will.

7)      Love thy Neighbour:

Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mar 12:29-31)

When we are sinning, we are actually not loving God and also our neighbour. If you are habitually angry with your wife, the reason is because you are not loving your wife and you are not honouring God. If we love God and love others, we can truly overcome sin.

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. (1Pe 4:8)

8)      Accountability partner:

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! (Ecc 4:9-10)

It is always good if you can have an accountability partner, who can help us in overcoming the sins we are struggling with. It should be preferably a mature believer who can be trustworthy and who truly cares for your wellbeing.

Finally let us remember that the Blood of Christ is sufficient to overcome all sins. Even though we may fall now, God is gracious and merciful because if He has regenerated you, He has promised that we would be sanctified and glorified to become like Christ.

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order 

that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Rom 8:29-30)

So if God has chosen us for eternity, “Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. “(Rom 8:33). Thus let us trust in God for doing His work of salvation in our lives since the God whom we believe in is faithful and mighty to save.

If you have liked this, you can also read Television - An addiction that makes us an Idiot