What is a besetting sin? It is a sin that we are naturally bent toward. Every individual has their own. These are sins we have enjoyed in the past and the flesh remembers the enjoyable parts of the sin. In Hebrews 12:1, the writer tells us we are encircled by those who have run the race before us. He had mentioned many of those in the previous chapter. Great saints like Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Moses were now in Heaven, enjoying the reward of their faithfulness. He paints a picture of them looking on as if they were in a grandstand cheering us on. This does not mean that they are looking on literally but that we can look to their example of faithfulness and press forward to gain our victory. We know it is possible to overcome our sinful nature through the power of Christ and because of the life they lived. Yet, if we are not on guard constantly, we can become overtaken.
Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”
What are some things to look for to identify our besetting sins and avoid falling prey to them?
First, we need to look to our past. What sins did we freely indulge in before we became Christians? If we enjoyed drinking alcohol or watching programs that included sexual immorality, then we will be tempted with those in the future. Satan cannot read our minds, but he has watched us and knows our habits. He will tempt us with a vengeance within the areas where we are weakest.
Second, look to our present. What areas of our lives are we engaged in that boost our ego? It may be a position we have desired and worked hard to gain. The temptation may come to compromise to gain the opportunity, such as missing church or our study time to get ahead on the job. The sin is not the position, but the means by which we use to receive it. Or it could be the praise we receive when we achieve a goal. Satan will use this to inflate our ego and get us off course. Our focus then becomes us, not the one who gave us the ability to achieve. We can become blinded by something that in itself is ok but it changes our focus.
Third, we all have weak points in our character. It would do us well to identify those so we can build safeguards in our lives. The great battles are not fought and won on the fly. Battles that are won are those that are fought with a prepared army. Our battles are not carnal but spiritual. In II Corinthians 19:3-4 Paul reminds us that though we are in the flesh we are in a war that can only be won through the power of God.
II Corinthians 10:3-4 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”
We must understand that the war will wage in the mind. This is where our sin starts. No one can see it but God. However, it is damaging to our soul. We tend to ignore the things no one else can see as if they didn’t exist. This is the reason so many cannot overcome besetting sins. We must wage war on anything that is not pleasing to the Lord. A war that takes an approach of no retreat. We must turn our hearts to the Lord in the study of His word. We need to remember the promises He has made to us as His children. In Deuteronomy 3:22 we know that the LORD our God will fight for us. We will not face these temptations to sin alone. Psalm 46:1 teaches us that, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” He is always ready and waiting to aid us in any war we wage on sin. We must be intentional and consciously crying out to God for help and we must not give in until the battle is won. We can overcome those sins that seem to hang on and nag at us throughout our lives, but we must do it God’s way.
Take time to identify areas where you know you are weak. This can be a hard thing because we tend to think better of ourselves and our abilities than our reality. The prophet Jeremiah affirms this in Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” therefore we must put safeguards in our lives. For instance, if you are tempted with lustful thoughts do not go to areas where immodesty will be prevalent. If you are tempted to overeat, do not go to an all you can eat buffet. These are physical ways we can help ourselves not to fall into old sins. Most of all we need to keep our minds on Him. In Isaiah 26:3 we will find that peace and help as we focus our minds on Him. Proverbs 4:23 teaches us that we must be diligent about the purity of our hearts if we are going to identify and forsake besetting sins.
Proverbs 4:23 tells us to “Keep thy heart with all diligence.”
Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
