12 Steps to Overcome the 7 Deadly Sins
- Following MyThread
- Oct 23, 2018
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 29, 2018
Years ago as I was studying Deuteronomy 7, I had a flash of insight and saw God's bracing encouragement, given to the Israelites as they faced battle against over powering enemies, as an allegory for our own spiritual warfare. As I went through the verses, I found 12 strategies or steps for addressing the seven deadly sins. I have shared these steps with those who are struggling with addiction and those in ministry who assisted those coming out of addiction. These have been just as helpful to me as I struggle with smaller, but no less entrenched issues in my own life. May they bless your life too!
Deuteronomy 7 (NIV) 17 You may say to yourselves, "These (seven) nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?"
18 But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt.
19 You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the miraculous signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear.
20 Moreover, the LORD your God will send the hornet among them until even the survivors who hide from you have perished.
21 Do not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.
22 The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.
23 But the LORD your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion until they are destroyed.
24 He will give their kings into your hand, and you will wipe out their names from under heaven. No one will be able to stand up against you; you will destroy them.
25 The images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not covet the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the LORD your God.
26 Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Utterly abhor and detest it, for it is set apart for destruction.
Seven Deadly Sins: wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy and gluttony
John 5:14-15 (NIV)
14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."
15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
How to Defeat Our Enemies
God’s Twelve Step Plan to Overcome the Seven Deadly Sins
Do not be afraid. (Deuteronomy 7:18)
Read your Bible and see how God has protected, provided for and saved those who could not save themselves. (Deuteronomy 7:18)
See how God is working in the lives of other believers and be strengthened by their testimonies.(Deuteronomy 7:19)
Meditate on the Crucifixion, recalling how with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, the Lord your God, by His death on the Cross, saved you from the power of sin and death and took the punishment you deserved under the law. (Deuteronomy 7:19)
Comfort yourself in knowing that He will do the same now, saving you from all that you now fear. (Deuteronomy 7:19)
Look for the little ways that God is helping you, fighting for you. The Lord has provision for you that you do not expect and could not have predicted. Keep your eyes focussed on the small details so you don’t miss what He is doing. (Deuteronomy 7:20)
Speak and Sing your faith. Declare “I will not be terrified by _____________, for the Lord my God, who IS among us, is a great and awesome God!” Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to keep your mind focussed on our Great God. (Deuteronomy 7:21)
Expect steady progress -- not instant victory. (Deuteronomy 7:22) & John 5:14-15
Do not be discouraged by slow progress. Recall the Lord’s promises. He WILL deliver you from your enemies, they WILL be destroyed, the source of their power WILL be destroyed and He WILL destroy even the memory of them. (Deuteronomy 7: 23-24)
Claim the Lord’s promise “No one will be able to stand up against you, you will destroy them.” Defeat the ONE that comes against you. Seize the opportunity to win the small victories over one thing at a time. (Deuteronomy 7:24)
Do house cleaning: burn images: get those pictures, books and images from TV or computer out of your life, do not covet the wealth or prestige associated with these sins by valuing what is expensive, opulent, or a part of the sinful life of the rich and famous, do not reach for the alluring part of this sin -- remember it is detestable to God, do not bring detestable things into your house (Deuteronomy 7: 25-26)
Clean out your heart: call evil what the Lord calls evil, call good what the Lord calls good, love what He loves, hate what He hates (Deuteronomy 7: 26)
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