I heard about this man, he would go into the woods and spend days and nights in fasting and prayer that he might overcome his great sin, then he would go back home, and resume his old habits! I am told that God did not hear his prayers because he was asking God to do for him what had been in his power to do for himself… Time and time again this man would make vows to the Lord, and as often broke his vows and gave up himself to his corrupt lust, until God left him to work his own ruin, he has since died…
While I pray to my heavenly Father, “Deliver me from temptation,” it is still in my power to shun temptation so far as possible! If I do fall into temptation, it is in my power to claim the promise that “God is faithful, He will not suffer me to be tempted beyond what I am able to bear, but will with the temptation make a way of escape that I may bear it.”
It is in my power to flee fornication, Jesus cannot do this for me! It is in my power to keep fleeing and not stop for one moment to reason, for Satan would rejoice to see me overthrown by temptation! It is in my power to flee fornication and not stop to argue the case with my weak conscience! It is in my power to turn away from the first step of transgression.
I’ve been unfortunate, I have indulged in licentious habits for quite a length of time, it’s up to me to put up a determined effort to resist temptation, and refuse the corrupt indulgence, if it be that a forever with Jesus is worth it to me…
Only holy till the next trigger, only saintly when I'm fast asleep, oh the gospel of God's grace hasn't given up on me! Between lucky and chosen, the Spirit of the Lord shows me the difference! Between building the Kingdom of God and joining the kingdom of darkness, the Spirit of the Lord shows me the distance! Oh I was losing the battle against sin, but victory was within my reach! Over and over I’ve fallen into my degrading sin, God’s love for me hasn’t diminished, the Spirit of the Lord shows me the difference… The Spirit of the Lord taught me how to deny myself, how to preserve myself for better things, I was so fit for hell when He found me! Between the placebo effect and the power of God, the Spirit of the Lord shows me the difference! Between what God can do for me and what I can do for myself, the Spirit of the Lord shows me the distance! Oh I had made up my mind that I’d always give in to sin, but I was ignorant of the fact! Oh I’m up against a great and skillful foe, my demise is not guaranteed, the Spirit of the Lord shows me the difference!