Q: I try not to sin and yet that is what I do? The harder I try to not sin, the more I seem to do it.
A: The problem with the mind is when you try to not think of something you inevitably think of it. Try this as an obvious example:
Do not think of the colour red.
So what entered your mind when you read that? The very thing that you were told not to right? Instead, of thinking about not doing something bad, you just need to do good. Put your mind on that which pleases God and you will sin less. You cannot sin and ‘not sin’ at the same time, you can only do one or the other at any given moment. Scripture says ‘whatever is not of faith is sin’. So just do the works of faith, it is that simple. That is all that is asked of you.
Sometimes the reason people can’t stop sinning is because they are thinking about not sinning and restraining themselves from a particular sin they are struggling with. God knows full well that this is not the way to defeat sin in your life. Instead, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things (Philippians 4:8).
To read a more substantive writing on this subject read the following:
How do you stop sinning?
