Overcoming Sin.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9.  

I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. Psalms 32:5

He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. Proverbs 28:13

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.  James 5:16
If we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us. I like this it works. We all sin, God knows that and that is why he sent Jesus. Many times in my life I have had an issue with one sin or another sin and I brought it to God. He took care of it. Sometimes it may have taken longer than others but if I kept that sin on the altar, God would cleanse it from my life. Men will probably always see a pretty young lady. But we do not have to act on it. We can appreciate the beauty God created and move on, we do not have to act on it. One minister in his 80's was asked when does this quit for men, that we stop seeing beautiful women. He answered about 3 days after your buried. The main thing is we do not have to yield or act on it. It is not a sin to see pretty. It is a sin to desire and dwell on it and act on it. I remember once having an affair with a young lady from work. It was hidden but it bothered me. I couldn't seem to get over it and it had a hold on me. I confessed my sin to my Pastor and he prayed with me.  I was able to walk away and stop the relationship. Sometimes keeping it hidden seems to keep you bound. This was a constant struggle for me until I married a good woman that was faithful to me. Many a prayer was prayed over this sin in my life. I kept it before God and did not try to hide it from God. He knows anyway. I grew up under emotional abuse, and I developed that pattern in my life. For a while I didn't see it for what it was. But when I could see it, I brought it to God and once again over a period of time, I was able to overcome that sin. I did not try to hide it from God. I kept it on the altar. Even before we get victory over the sin, we are forgiven. If we confess and do not hide it, God is faithful to forgive and cleanse it out of our life. It can be  anything, just keep it before God and he will cleanse it out of our lives. If we hide it , conceal it as Proverbs says, we will not prosper or get rid of it. It requires being honest before God. God this is what I am dealing with. God this is what I am having trouble with. Some times we may need to confide in a trusted Pastor or friend to help us pray. James tells us to confess our sins to one another, that we may be healed. I would only confide in someone I knew I could trust. Some times the wrong person will help us justify our sin instead of getting rid of it. It works, and God sees everything anyway, so trust God to cleanse us and mold us into the persons he wants us to be.  God bless, LVZ.