Sin is a dethroned monarch; so you must no longer give it an opportunity to rule over your life, controlling how you live and compelling you to obey its desires and cravings.
Romans 6:12 TPT
This post continues our journey on overcoming sinful habits by focusing on the spiritual freedom God offers. As we explore this path, we’ll see how choosing God’s will over our own desires leads to true liberation from the control of sin. In previous parts of this series, we addressed root causes and how surrendering to God opens the door to freedom. Now, we dive deeper into overcoming sinful habits, understanding how sin, like a dethroned monarch, loses its hold on us when we choose to live under God’s guidance.
In a previous post, we reflected on the nature of divided loyalty. Inspired by Matthew 6:24, which warns: “No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and mammon.” Let’s continue by learning how to avoid letting sin rule in our lives and instead, pursue a life of righteousness and sanctification.
This passage reveals the critical need to resist sin’s influence. Sin can feel like a persuasive leader, drawing us back with promises of satisfaction and control. However, sin’s reign is an illusion; we are no longer its servants if we choose to serve God wholeheartedly. Recognising sin as a defeated power allows us to break free. Consequently, begin the journey of overcoming sinful habits by continually aligning our lives with God’s desires rather than our own.
In Romans 6:12-13, Paul encourages us not to let sin rule in our lives. He instructs that we yield our bodies to God’s service rather than to sin’s cravings. There is a profound difference between following temporary impulses and surrendering ourselves to God’s steady, transforming power. This surrender is what truly begins the process of overcoming sinful habits. Choosing God as our guide makes us resilient against fleeting desires, and the sinful cravings that once dominated us gradually lose their grip.
It’s also important to understand that even when someone is following a sinful path, they may still do things that seem morally or socially good. Yet, these good actions, without God as their foundation, don’t lead to true life. The Bible tells us that actions, no matter how good they may seem, remain tainted by the master of sin if rooted in self-will rather than God’s will. Without God as the centre, sin’s influence quietly grows. It takes new forms and continues to produce actions that lead to death. The reality of overcoming sinful habits is that the heart must align with God to experience true change and freedom.
Another vital point is recognising that our inner “self” is often the source of sin. This means that in order to experience freedom, we need victory over ourselves, not just external situations or influences. We don’t need to loudly proclaim this transformation; it naturally shines through our actions and attitudes. Romans 6:18 (AMPC) confirms this, stating, “And having been set free from sin, you have become the servants of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in thought, purpose, and action).” When we align with God, our thoughts, purposes, and actions reflect His righteousness. Likewise, our lives become examples of spiritual freedom.
In conclusion, overcoming sinful habits requires us to make a conscious choice to dethrone sin and enthrone God as the ultimate authority in our lives. This journey is a daily surrender, where each decision aligns us closer to God and further from sin’s reach. True freedom comes from allowing God to reshape our thoughts, desires, and actions. By continually choosing God, we open ourselves to a life that reflects His righteousness. A life marked not by the struggle of addiction but by the peace and strength of living in God’s grace.
