Have you heard those stories where a wild animal gets into a person’s home?  It could be an alligator or a snake, and there are times when a bear makes it into a person’s car and creates havoc inside the vehicle.  Removing an alligator from the home creates lots of damage to the interior of the home as well.  Removing snakes can be a battle in itself because they can crawl into and under cabinets.  Any animal inside my home, except a dog or a bird, is not very welcome.

It is the same with sin in our lives.  Once it enters our lives it can be very destructive.  No sin is a small sin in God’s eyes and with good reason.  A “small sin” can fester and become larger.  These sins may seem innocent, but the longer they stay and fester, they lead into other sins or even place a blind spot in our spiritual vision and can start to destroy us from the inside out. 

Ephesians 4:17 (NIV) states “and do not give the devil a foothold.”  I think of this as an invasion in the way the Marines would come ashore on all the islands in the Pacific during World War II.  They would come ashore, establish a beachhead, get their position stable, bring their equipment ashore, and then move inland and clear the way of enemy troops.  In the same way, satan only needs a foothold in your mind and your heart, then he comes in with his junk and starts to take over your heart, bringing in sin, and growing his influence as time passes.  Before you know it, you are knee-deep in sin and regret for either something you did or something you said.  Once sin takes a foothold it is very difficult to remove it from your life.  The New American Standard Version 1995 of this verse states “and do not give the devil an opportunity.”  Don’t let satan have a new opportunity to wreak havoc in your life. 

There are many ways to fight those temptations or those thoughts that come into your mind.  Mahatma Gandhi once said, and I am simplifying and paraphrasing it, “Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your behavior.  Your behavior becomes your habits.  Your habits shape your values.  Your values become your character (this I added).  Your Character shapes your destiny.”  In truth, what you allow into your thoughts and linger in your thoughts can create either havoc or stability in your life. 

Taking captive of your thoughts starts with obeying God’s commands for your life.  Staying faithful to the teachings of Jesus will help to keep your thoughts and life safe from the influence of any satanic attacks.  The first of these is to think of the Ten Commandments as a starting place.  Now, we have a tough time keeping all those commandments in addition to the teachings of Jesus, but that is where we also need to focus on his teachings and remember we gather our strength from him.  Remember Philippians 4:13 (NASB) “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”  Draw Strength from Jesus in those times of weakness and he will give them to you.  Also the teachings from James 4:7 (ESV) “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  The most important reason to obey God is our love for Him and His Son Jesus as stated in John 14:15 (NCV) “If you love me, you will obey my commands.”  Our obedience to Jesus demonstrates our Love for Him and gives us the strength to overcome as stated in Philippians.  This resistance will cause our enemy – satan – to flee from us. 

The next step in keeping satan in his place is to take captive of our thoughts.  This can be difficult because we can let our thoughts wander and take hold.  We can let them fester and build into a fantasy or build into an unhealthy emotion.   Taking them captive and bringing them into submission to Biblical thoughts is the key to overcoming those feelings and habits that may build down the road.  Paul in his second letter to the Corinthian Church puts it this way “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV).  Taking hold of those thoughts and replacing them with verses from the Bible will help us overcome those unhealthy thoughts.  That is why learning scripture is key to overcoming our feelings, thoughts, and emotions. 

A very important part of controlling your thoughts and not allowing sin into your life is forgiving quickly.  This has been a very difficult thing for me, but I am learning to forgive.  We need to forgive quickly.  Ephesians 4:26 (NIV) says “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,” Forgive quickly.  Matthew 6:14-15 (NASB1995) states “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”  But unforgiveness is a lot more harmful than we think.  We may think we are protecting ourselves but in reality, we are harming ourselves.  A Pastor from a church I attended put it this way – Unforgiveness is like taking a cup, filling it up with all kinds of poisons then drinking the concoction hoping the other person dies.  In reality, we are killing ourselves.  Sometimes the other person may not know they harmed you and it is best to talk to them and work things out.  It may end up being a misunderstanding.  Jesus tells us that we are to leave our gift at the altar and be reconciled to our brother or sister.  This pertains to our Brothers and Sisters in Christ, but it can also help to build or fix a relationship with those who are not our Brothers and Sisters in Christ.  It can even show Christ’s love to them and demonstrate something they have never seen.  “So when you offer your gift to God at the altar, and you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there at the altar. Go and make peace with that person, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23 – 24 (NCV).  This is not often easy, but it will clear up your heart and hopefully mend friendships.  I honestly believe any person, especially a Christian, will be glad you spoke to them to save the friendship and to mend fences.  In an age where people talk behind each other’s backs, I know confronting a person in humility will go a long way and will generate respect for each other.  

Confessing our sins to each other will also help us with our accountability.  It brings us closer to our Brothers and Sisters in Christ.  There are some things we should not confess to the opposite sex, but we should confess the things we struggle with.  1 John 1:9 (NLT) says “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”  This can help strengthen the body of Christ and help us know what to look for when we are off our game.  It will help each other know how to pray for each other and be able to set up a support system.   Hosea 14:2 (NLT) says “Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord. Say to him, “Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you our praises.”  It is great to come into the House of the Lord and give our Worship and Praise to God with a clear heart.  And it is nice to be with my Brothers and Sisters at worship with a heart that is not burdened by sin and has repentance in it. 

I have one final weapon to bring to the fight to overcome our sin and beat satan at his game.  It is important to deny yourself and to deny your desires.  Jesus said in Luke 9:23 (NKJV) “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”  Denying yourself is important because it keeps your flesh in check and keeps you from running down the easy path and into regret.  I think of regret as the hangover after a heavy night of drinking – it may feel good at the moment but the hangover is murder.  I would rather not sin because of the feelings I have, and the fact that after sinning satan uses that sin against me.  God forgives our sins, but let’s not go down that road. 

I know I said the previous paragraph was the final thing in defeating sin in our hearts, but I want to leave us with one final weapon.  Make sure we put on the Whole Armor of God, as described in Ephesians 6:10 – 18 (NCV) “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his great power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can fight against the devil’s evil tricks.  Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world.  That is why you need to put on God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing.  So stand strong, with the belt of truth tied around your waist and the protection of right living on your chest.  On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong.  And also use the shield of faith with which you can stop all the burning arrows of the Evil One.  Accept God’s salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready and never give up. Always pray for all God’s people.”  This also goes hand in hand with denying yourself.  This will keep everything in perspective.  I know it is not easy, but it will help you to maintain your boundaries with yourself and with God. 

Hopefully, you have some tools to help overcome the sins that entangle and engulf us.  We struggle, we stumble, we fall.  The key is getting back up and getting back into the fight for God.  Ask His forgiveness when we fall for He is quick to forgive us.  Don’t hold onto anger and unforgiveness (I am talking to myself in this as well), and remember we have Brothers and Sisters willing to help us and a Loving God who is always ready to embrace us and love us.  If you don’t think so, read the story of the Prodigal Son.  I won’t put it here, but I will give you a link to read the parable of (The Prodigal Son).  Read it for yourself and see how much God loves you. 

I pray you are blessed by this and hope that it has touched your heart. 

If any of this has touched your heart and you want to have a relationship with Our Father and Our Lord Jesus Christ, and you want to spend eternity in Heaven and Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, or you feel you have backslidden and want to repent then please pray this prayer:

DEAR LORD, I KNOW I AM A SINNER.  I KNOW I HAVE HOPE IN JESUS.  I WANT TO REPENT OF MY SINS AND COME TO YOU TO ASK FORGIVENESS.  I WANT TO ASK YOU TO FORGIVE MY SINS, CLEANSE ME OF MY SINS, GIVE ME THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE WITH JESUS, AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE JESUS IS MY LORD AND SAVIOR AND HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR ME.  I ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO COME INTO ME AS THE GUARANTEE OF MY SALVATION AND WANT TO REPENT OF MY SINS.  ALL THIS I ASK IN JESUS HOLY AND PRECIOUS NAME, AMEN

If you prayed that prayer then I want to say CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF BELIEVERS.  The Angels, The Saints, The Lord Jesus, and all who have gone before us are having a party in Heaven because you chose Jesus.  And I want to welcome you to the family.  Find a good Bible-based church and continue to learn about Jesus.  We are all on this Journey together.  And in the end we will hear God say “Well Done my good and faithful servant!”