Temptation to sin is a chronic problem for all of us.  In the Lord’s prayer, for example, He says, “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” I believe He gives us tools to help deliver us from evil, so there is an action on our part that we can take to avoid those things we are tempted to do. His Word defines sin for us, and His Holy Spirit brings conviction in areas that we specifically struggle. Our job is to agree with the sinfulness that He points out and denounce it!

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1John 1:9).

He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. ⁸ He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding (Ephesians 1:7-8).

From the journal . . . August 2025   

I was doing my personal Bible study from Galatians 5:19-21.

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21.).

And I wrote: 

Bad things: envy, drunkenness, sexual immorality, hostility, selfish ambition, jealousy.

Lord, I may not always be successful in abstaining from those evil urges or thoughts, but I can confidently denounce them as wrong.

And God said to me:

And that is a good defense against the temptation. Hate the wrong! Hate it, then cut it off from you and don’t sink in shame or despair. My child, even to just say, “This fault finding is wrong. It is hostile and I hate it. I will love and look for what is good.” To say that is a huge gain. And even if you have to repeat it a minute later, don’t give up.

Hate evil, love good, And establish justice in the gate! Perhaps the Lord God of armies Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph (Amos 5:15 ).NASB

Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor (Prov 21:21).

Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace,  and work to maintain it (Ps 34:14).

And if you struggle to find the good in a person, remember the good in Me and in the plans I have for them. That’s fighting the good fight.

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27).

Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses (1 Tim 6:12  ).

Be faithful to renounce the bad and proclaim the good.

Thank you God!  Good words for me.

We currently have a Bible Study at our church about the Gospel throughout the Bible. We’ve looked at the Old Testament and last week the Book of Acts.  This week is Galatians!  The Galatians 5:19-21 verse here happened to be the one given for us to ponder and I thought immediately of the idea of proclaiming what is Good!  That reminded me of when I taught Sunday School.  We sang a song that says G-O-S-P-E-L spells gospel and means GOOD NEWS!!!   Proclaim the Good News!!  Believe and Proclaim. 

For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved (Romans 10:10).