Victory Over Sin
By Jennifer Slattery
“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.” Proverbs 21:31
Sometimes it feels like the harder I try, the more I fail. Can you relate? Most of us want to be faithful believers. To please God with our thoughts, words, and actions, but striving for godliness in our own strength only leaves us feeling defeated and exhausted.
Each morning, I determine to live one hundred percent for Christ. To love others more faithfully, to be more diligent with prayer, and to follow God’s leading, no matter how challenging that may be. But often, before lunchtime, I’ve failed in more ways than I’d care to admit.
When that happens, I’m tempted to try harder—to dig in my heels and clench my teeth with sure determination. But we’ll never find victory over “self” by relying on ourselves. Victory, over whatever we face, comes from God.
When we quiet ourselves before Him and sit in His presence, His Spirit flows deep within us, giving life-changing strength. The strength we need to love as He loves, think as He thinks, and live as He would have us live.
The next time you feel selfishness, pride, and sinful thought patterns rise up, set aside your boxing gloves and turn on some praise music instead. Draw near to Christ and let Him fight your battle against sin for you. And let Him lead you in victory as you listen for and follow His guidance throughout the day.
Jennifer Slattery is a writer, editor, speaker, and the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries. She writes for Crosswalk, is the author of eight contemporary novels, and helped write Wholly Loved’s Bible study based on the life of Sarai (Gen. 12-23) titled Becoming His Princess, releasing in the spring/summer of 2019. When not writing, reading, or editing, Jennifer loves going on mall outings with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun husband. Visit her online at jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com.
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Originally published Friday, 06 January 2023.
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