“What I want to do, I don’t do, and what I don’t want to do, I do.” How often have I been frustrated with myself because I have messed up again. Losing patience, I respond with an unkind word. I complain about what I do not have, rather than being thankful for what I do have. When life does not go my way, I take control, rather than trusting God’s plan. Irritated with what others clearly do wrong through my eyes, I am completely blinded to what I clearly do wrong in God’s eyes. I sin against the Lord when all I want to do is follow Him.

Ever feel this way? This defines our struggle with sin. Paul understands that struggle because he struggled too.

“I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate…And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” Romans 7:15, 18-20 NLT

Though the penalty of our sin was paid for on the cross, we still bear a sin nature, leaving us struggling against sin. We are prone to sin. It lurks in our hearts. Both Matthew and Luke remind us that although we may do all the right things on the outside, eventually the evil in our heart will be revealed through what we do and say.

“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.” Matthew 15:18

“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45

I hate my struggle with sin. One moment I can feel so close in my walk with the Lord, only to have hidden sin is revealed through a thought, how I treat someone, or through the things I say. I am frustrated when I choose wrong over what I know is right. I am guessing you share those same frustrations too.

So how do we get to the place where we do what we want to do, and don’t do what we don’t want to do, avoiding sin? The answer? Draw near to God. It is only through Him that we can turn away from sin and follow Him with a pure heart.

While the answer is quite simple, sometimes it is hard to make the choice to pursue God when the lure of sin is so great. The more you pursue God, the more you are able to resist the devil and his taunting.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” James 4:7

With the power of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word to guide you, you will find you are more often doing those things which are right in God’s eyes. The Holy Spirit will reveal the dark places in your heart that need cleansing. With those hard places softened and clean, your words and actions will reflect Jesus. Drawing near to God, you will encourage others toward Him when they see God’s love, kindness and grace flowing through you. God will enable you to turn from sin and choose to live a life that honors Him.

Our lives are a walk toward holiness. Moments come each day when we have to make a choice – will we choose to sin or will we follow God? Make the choice toward holiness. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.