I went to the Lord some years because I was convinced that I would never win over habitual sin. I would like to share what He told me. He reminded me of the time I lived in Austria when I was ten years old and just learning to ski.
I couldn't ski. I was the worst in my group. At that time Austrian schools got out for a week at a time, the kids got on a train and the whole group went skiing.
The first day we were divided into groups by ability. Of course, I was in the lowest group. And of that group I was the worst. I just couldn't understand the instruction. Then toward the end of that week I got behind my instructor and did everything she did. Look! She put all her weight on her left ski! I did the same as I formed a wedge behind her. And look--I did a beautiful snow plow turn! She turned around just then to tell me something, I think she was about to give up on me. She saw me turn, her mouth dropped into a perfect "O" and she didn't say anything. I could tell she was stunned.
That was the beginning. I lived in Austria for six years, and every year I went skiing for a week or more. But that didn't mean I did well. I fell down more than anybody else. I felt like I was always the one sitting in the snow. But after six years, I was in the expert group, I skied in the races at the end of the week, and I was winning. Today I am an expert skier--and I hardly ever fall.
That is what the Lord reminded me of when I went to Him and asked Him for help. He reminded me of all the times I sat in the snow, and how cold and wet I would get if I just sat there. He reminded me how I learned to get up fast, and to go on, never giving up.
He showed me that learning to overcome sin is like that. We are going to fall, maybe hundreds of times. Maybe even thousands of times. But like a loving parent, God watches us and waits for us to get up. Don't sit in the snow! It's cold and wet! Get up, try again, keep going, and if you fall again just get up again. Ask Him to clean you up. He will, 1 John 1:9.
Eventually I learned to ski; eventually we will learn to live without falling so much. We can do it. God will help us!
God does not condemn us when we sin. He convicts us, but He doesn't condemn us. His heart tells us get up! Let Him brush you off! Keep trying, eventually you will learn!
And if you want to learn how to not sin--how to do it really well--get behind the Instructor, and watch Him. Just watching Him will help you to get those turns right.
I couldn't ski. I was the worst in my group. At that time Austrian schools got out for a week at a time, the kids got on a train and the whole group went skiing.
The first day we were divided into groups by ability. Of course, I was in the lowest group. And of that group I was the worst. I just couldn't understand the instruction. Then toward the end of that week I got behind my instructor and did everything she did. Look! She put all her weight on her left ski! I did the same as I formed a wedge behind her. And look--I did a beautiful snow plow turn! She turned around just then to tell me something, I think she was about to give up on me. She saw me turn, her mouth dropped into a perfect "O" and she didn't say anything. I could tell she was stunned.
That was the beginning. I lived in Austria for six years, and every year I went skiing for a week or more. But that didn't mean I did well. I fell down more than anybody else. I felt like I was always the one sitting in the snow. But after six years, I was in the expert group, I skied in the races at the end of the week, and I was winning. Today I am an expert skier--and I hardly ever fall.
That is what the Lord reminded me of when I went to Him and asked Him for help. He reminded me of all the times I sat in the snow, and how cold and wet I would get if I just sat there. He reminded me how I learned to get up fast, and to go on, never giving up.
He showed me that learning to overcome sin is like that. We are going to fall, maybe hundreds of times. Maybe even thousands of times. But like a loving parent, God watches us and waits for us to get up. Don't sit in the snow! It's cold and wet! Get up, try again, keep going, and if you fall again just get up again. Ask Him to clean you up. He will, 1 John 1:9.
Eventually I learned to ski; eventually we will learn to live without falling so much. We can do it. God will help us!
God does not condemn us when we sin. He convicts us, but He doesn't condemn us. His heart tells us get up! Let Him brush you off! Keep trying, eventually you will learn!
And if you want to learn how to not sin--how to do it really well--get behind the Instructor, and watch Him. Just watching Him will help you to get those turns right.
