Fighting Sin with Prayer

Discipline is Everything

I want to share a discipline with you that has been life giving to me. When I say discipline, I want to be careful because discipline is often mistaken for legalism. I think the key to that difference is the focus. Legalism is focused on Self, discipline is focused on God. Legalism says “I will do this to gain points with God”. Discipline says “I will do this because I love God and want to please him.” This is a very Biblical sentiment. 1 Timothy 4:7-9 “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.” Let me start by reading several Scriptures. You probably won’t have time to flip to them all, maybe write them down but FOCUS on the consistent theme.

Preserve me, O God.

Psalm 19:13 “Keep back your servant also from presumptuous [deliberate] sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.”

Psalms 120:2 “Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.”

Psalm 119:133 “Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.”

Psalm 16:1 “Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.”

A cry of desperation. A prayer of dependence. A recognition of need. A step of submission.

I think we all would attest to the importance of daily prayer. Communion with God. Daily conversation with him. A practical step of “setting the mind on the Spirit” (Romans 8:8). David gives us the example of asking God to “keep us” from sin, to “deliver” and “preserve” us. Putting this into practice has resulted in victory of sin for me.

God is Able

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Jude 24 “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,”

Philippians 2:12-13 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Psalm 121:7-8 “The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”

Hebrews 2:18 “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Psalm 18:31-32 “For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?— the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless.”

How does it work?

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

Like Jesus recalled Scripture

Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

Romans 12:1-2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

John 15:4 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”

James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Now what?

Hebrews 4:15-16 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”