Sin That Hinders Us

I am a wretched sinner.

I am not always communed to my God who gave me air to breath. I fail to thank him a lot of times, and I would rather have things my way, which eventually wouldn't work out or help people around me, or even myself. For the most part, I fail God.

James 1:14-15 says, "Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death."

What desires do I have that make me a sinner. A lot that would be outside the realm of the good things God wants to give and do with me. Maybe even things he would have me do for you.

What desires do you have that make you a sinner?

Think upon things that make you feel guilty when you do them, or perhaps weaken you overtime. You know our physical bodies can give out on us because of sin. Just see me as a living example. Discontentment has caused me to be lightheaded or cheated of breath at times. It's not what God has intended, though. Put in a simple way, he wants me to be at peace and rest in him (Isaiah 41:10; Philippians 4:11).

Think about your life today. Is it worry that robs you have living life to the fullest in Christ? Is it discontentment? Is it your desires in this world that make you not see the great and wonderful things from above God has for you (see James 1:17)?

This is what I suggest, but there are many ways you can go about this.

First pray to God. Tell him and ask of him what is hindering you from walking fully with him. It really is a serious thing when we have half of a wall made up of bitterness, anger, discontentment, or what not in front of us and God. Seek him with your whole heart, and He will surely bless him. Just be willing to listen to his answer and to be willing to obey it.

Then get into the Word. Maybe start in a Psalm, or a epistle. I like being able to connect to the writer and seeing their emotions play out just as mine sometimes have. That way you know the men and women before us who have walked a life in faith also had doubt and struggles. And needless to say, it feels both wonderful and humbling at the same time that even God's holiest of people still struggled with sin just like we do.

Also don't forget to thank God for his mercy above all else. Without the sacrifice of Christ we wouldn't have an opportunity to override sin in our lives. To throw away every hindrance of sin that so entangles us in our lives (Hebrews 12:1). Walking with Christ doesn't mean restrictions in life by the means of cutting out that give us lasting joy. Instead it is what gives us the lasting joy. The joy that doesn't get tarnished. The joy that is accompanied by peace.

Today do not miss the opportunity to spend time with God and thank him for his grace and ask for it to be extended by whatever sin you may have to deal with. God will help you.

"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." ~ Romans 15:13