What I’ve Learned About Battling Sin and Finding Freedom

The sins of jealousy and discontentment were crouching at my door, and I was tempted to let them take control.

But why?

I realized I hadn’t been in the Word regularly. Without my eyes fixed on Jesus, sin found an easier foothold in my heart, warping my thoughts. I’ve noticed this pattern before: when I’m not intentionally in God’s Word, my flesh emerges, often showing itself through pride, selfishness, and irritability.

You’d think that having experienced this before—and knowing the importance of an abiding relationship with the Lord—would be enough to keep me motivated. Yet, even with that knowledge, finding the discipline to read the Bible can still feel impossible.

Praying for Discipline

As I wrestled with my apathy toward reading Scripture, I started praying a simple prayer every day:

“God, create a clean heart within me, and with the help of your Spirit, give me the discipline to read Your Word this week.”

Even as I prayed, other forms of “rest” seemed more appealing, but gradually, putting God’s Word first became easier.

One of the first passages I studied during this spiritual fight was a scripture I was preparing to teach for my youth Sunday School class. Jesus’ words jumped off the page at me:

“See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you” (John 5:14).

Sin damages. In my case, unchecked jealousy could have splintered relationships I deeply care about. God used His Word to remind me of this truth and to lead me away from temptation.

What I Learned While Wrestling with Sin

1. Take each thought captive.

Identify your feelings honestly. I felt jealous, and no matter how much I wanted to justify it, I knew in my heart it was sin. The enemy wants to steal our joy through comparison, but God wants to give us peace as we cultivate thankfulness. My jealousy was a symptom of not being fully satisfied in my Savior.

2. Earnestly seek God’s help.

I knew sin was knocking because I hadn’t faithfully spent time with Jesus. I needed His Spirit to push me to read His life-giving Word because on my own, I kept falling short.

3. Share your struggles.

Talking about sin diminishes its power. I first shared my struggle in the Sunday School class I was preparing, then thanked God publicly at a prayer meeting for giving me the accountability I needed to stay in His Word. Speaking it aloud turned a hidden battle into an opportunity to point to Jesus’ goodness.

4. Ask others to pray for you.

God designed us to fight spiritual battles in community. During a church prayer meeting, two women I became prayer partners with shared their own struggles to prioritize Scripture. Praying together reminded me that all believers face spiritual battles, and having others lift you up makes the fight easier.

You’re Not Alone

If you’re wrestling with sin or struggling to stay motivated to read the Bible, know this: you are not alone. Each day brings different challenges and different levels of motivation.

Take courage in the reminder of God’s invitation: He is calling you, even in your brokenness and sin. Just as the lyrics of “O, Come to the Altar” say:

Are you hurting and broken within?
Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin?
Jesus is calling…

God’s arms are open wide, offering forgiveness and grace.