Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

Victory Over Sin

Title:  Victory Over Sin

Reading for July 23:  Isaiah 32-34

"O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for you.
    Be our arm every morning,
    our salvation in the time of trouble."
Isaiah 33:2

What is the secret to victory over sin?

It's not willpower. Willpower will only take you so far. We do not fight against human foes but against spiritual hosts of evil (Eph 6:12). The devil is bigger, stronger, smarter, and more experienced than we are in this kind of combat. Armed with only our will to resist we will fall before the devil every time.

The answer is not will power. It is GOD'S power! He is the Holy One of Israel! He is the holy, holy, holy God! With his strength we cannot fail! With his help victory is assured!

I think most of us recognize this on some level. We realize that without God we can't win. But our behavior says otherwise. We go out onto the battlefield with nothing but our own strength to fight and resist temptation. We haven't armed ourselves with the Word of God and prayer. We are out there in the world with no shield or sword. We are defenseless against the enemy.

Don't be so foolish, Christian! Prepare yourself for war! Take the Lord with you to the battle!

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?