Audits & Resolutions - Day 26

Write From My Heart / December 26, 2020 / Audits & Resolutions – Day 26

Question: How do I handle the resurfacing of old habits and temptations?

Psalm 19:12-13 (NIV) Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins: may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

Isaiah 43:18 and 25 (NIV) Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.   …    I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

Psalm 130:3-5 (NIV) If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

            As we begin the last few days of this series, we are also drawing very close to the beginning of a new year—a fresh start in our lives. My heart tells me the first step is to understand the depth of forgiveness. When God forgives us through the sacrifice of his Only Begotten Son, the transgression is removed. It no longer exists. Something I have recently noticed in the Isaiah passage is that God does this “for [his] own sake” which gives new depth of understanding. God’s ultimate desire is to have a people after his own heart, a people who would praise and honor his name, and this would not be possible if forgiveness were temporary. In order for God to have a pure people, a righteous people, forgiveness must be an act of completeness and this is only possible because of the perfect sacrifice of his Son. Our message is clear—quit dwelling on the past blunders and sins in our life. Let the past go because Christ has covered it with his blood and God remembers it no more. Forgiveness is complete. This brings us to the next step—maintenance—How will we handle future temptations and keep from slipping back into old habits?

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. but when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV) Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. for we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

            There are any number of strategies that can help one through times of temptations especially when old habits creep to the surface. Some people use strategies provided by counseling groups. Some people change routines in order to be less prone to come across old habits. Some people use acronyms such as, WWJD (What would Jesus do?). Some people use clichés such as, “Been there, done that, don’t want to do it again.” For me, my heart simply reminds me that I belong to Christ. That’s it and it truly is that simple—I belong to Christ, I am a new person, the old is forgiven and I’m moving forward.

Resolution: Remember you belong to Christ.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            We come to you with humble thanksgiving for forgiveness in Christ. We thank you that in your love, grace and mercy you offer forgiveness that is total, complete, and lasting. As we move forward we ask for strength to avoid past pitfalls and mistakes. We are created new in you; we are part of your Kingdom family and we choose to stay with you.

            In the name of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, Amen.