When The Door Slams
The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.
But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.
Proverbs 24:16
Have you ever struggled with a "besetting sin"? That 's the kind of sin people commit over and over. They simply fall into it repeatedly. No matter how many times they confess it, no matter how often they vow to stop doing it or try to resist it, they end up giving in. It can be smoking habit, a sexual addiction, abuse of drugs, anger, jealousy, greed, lies, or a multitude of other thing.
Think about this: You can't stop because your sins will-not let you stop. Sins like these can wreak havoc on your life. You feel constantly guilty, like a failure, a loser, and a sneak. You try hard not to let anyone else know about this problem in your life. And when you keep stumbling, even after you have confessed it to others, you are too ashamed to admit that it happen again.
What doses God say to those who have such problems, who have trusted him for their salvation but still struggle with sins they can't seem to overcome? Keep facing it. Keep trying. Don't give up. You belong to God, although you may not find victory quickly. He promises to be with you, to help you, to show you the path to victory. You know the story.
Peter was told he had to forgive his enemy seven times seventy; in the same way, we might fall that many times, instead of the seven times found in this verse. God doesn't fix everything in a Christian's life at once. We all struggle. But we can trust his promise that he will not give up on us--he will enable us to keep getting up and getting back into the fight
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin.
Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
