By God's grace I jumped off a sin-train today.
You know those moments, days, or seasons when you find yourself once again headed down old paths. You find that once again, you are on that train and you know its destination. Sometimes we can recognize it as soon as we're in line to buy the ticket, so we buckle that belt of truth a little tighter and walk away. Sometimes it feels like we are oblivious (or in denial) until the train has reached full speed, but God's amazing grace will still pull us back when we call out to Him.
Today, I found myself being tempted by an age-old line. But thanks to a Holy Spirit nudge, I recognized the tempter's ways.
But let's be real, it was still really hard. Repeatedly, silently, I let the word "sin" scroll through my brain. Followed shortly thereafter by, "It's sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." Over and over I let those words sink deeper and deeper until I had cleared the temptation. I've struggled with sin all my life and this one is NOT new. But it wasn't until I called it what it was - SIN, no fancy, deceptive, sugar-twisted temporary happy, but SIN ...that I was set free from the temptation.
Prob 28.13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and FORSAKES them will find compassion.