Most of us struggle with a sin area that seems nearly impossible to resist. The devil is mean like that. He cackles when we walk into his snare, believing there’s no way we can experience the victory Christ provided.

But Satan’s delight turns to horror when he sees us walking in the power that is provided to us through Christ’s resurrection:

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4 ESV)

What recurring sin or bad habit do you consistently give into? What behavior is holding you down with shame, leaving you to wonder whether you’ll ever prevail over it? Perhaps you’ve reached the point that you dare not speak with God about it anymore. But you desperately need His forgiveness. You desperately want His help to overcome it.

What if we chose to turn Satan’s delight to horror on a regular basis? Rather than spending less time with Christ because we’re so ashamed, how powerful it would be if we spent more time, going deeper with Him and His Word. A closer relationship with our Savior will help us become more sensitive to His Spirit so that we’re able to choose to die to sinful behavior, including those behaviors we tend to justify.

With this in mind, what sins are we going to die to so that we can become the person we pray to be?

Imagine how differently we would live our lives if we actually viewed ourselves as being buried with Christ in baptism (being dead to our old ways). During this Easter Season, picture yourself walking in newness of life—living a life that triumphs over sin and shame.

Let’s pray.

Risen Savior, remind me to never avoid speaking with You, especially when I need You the most. Don’t let me forget how much I need Your grace when I’m tempted—or when I’m filled with shame because I’ve yielded to the temptation. Help me, Lord, to share Your fierce hatred for sin and anything that steals my heart from You. Then, let me witness Your tremendous love, mercy and compassion, and experience Your life-changing resurrection power every day. Amen.

What about you?

I’d love to hear your thoughts about this post. (Others might also benefit from your comment.)

• In what ways have you experienced newness of life in Christ?

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