How do I get control of sinful impulses?

TL;DR:

At times we have impulses to sin, but when we know the truth of our freedom in Christ, we can handle sinful impulses instead of being overtaken by them.

All of us have times when sinful impulses seem to control us. When faced with sinful impulses, though, we have assurance that we do not fight against them alone. Second Timothy 1:7 tells us that God has placed a spirit of power, love, and self-control within us that we may stand up against the sinful urges we feel. Hebrews 12:11 explains why we ultimately want to gain control over our sinful impulses and desires. By learning and growing in self-control, although at times unpleasant, we will gain “the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11). In Philippians 1:6 we are reminded that the good work God is doing in our lives now will not be abandoned but rather taken to full completion. When God transforms our hearts, sinful impulses will lessen, and the fruit of the Spirit of self-control with strengthen. As we focus more on the things of God as Philippians chapter four instructs us, we will have less room in our minds for temptations to take hold.

from the old testament

God hears the righteous when they cry out to Him and promises to deliver them from trouble (Psalm 34:17).
God promises to rescue his servants and will not condemn believers as they take refuge in Him (Psalm 34:22).
When we feel the burden of temptation and sinful impulses, we can cast that load on God and He will sustain us (Psalm 55:22).
As our Father, God has compassion and love us. He knows us in great detail and understands our frailty (Psalm 103:13-14).

from the new testament

When we know God’s truth, we find true and complete freedom (John 8:32).
We are no longer slaves to our sinful nature when we accept Christ. We are set free from sin and become servants of righteousness (Romans 6:17-18).
When we are in Christ, we are a new creation. We no longer are controlled by the old self, our sinful nature (2 Corinthians 5:17).
To become right with God, Jesus, who was sinless, became like sin for us and died in our place (2 Corinthians 5:21).
We must take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ, only allowing ourselves God-honoring thoughts (2 Corinthians 10:5).
The good work that God has started within us will not be left unfinished (Philippians 1:6).
Christians should focus on good, pure and honorable thoughts that return our focus to God and remove space for sin to enter (Philippians 4:8).
God has given believers a spirit of power, love, and self-control, not a spirit of timidity (2 Timothy 1:7).
Self-discipline and control of our sinful impulses may not always be pleasant, but, if we stay the course, we will reap a harvest of the ‘peaceful fruit of righteousness’ (Hebrews 12:11).
When we feel anxious or troubled by our sinful impulses, we can give those cares to God because He cares deeply for us (1 Peter 5:7).

implications for today

Sinful impulses can feel impossible to control at times, making us think we are powerless against them. But God has provided us with many tools to fight these impulses. The first is His very presence. God promises to never leave, so we do not have to fight our impulses alone as we read in 2 Timothy 1:7. The indwelling Holy Spirit will help us stand firm in our resolve to avoid sin and not give into temptation.

Sometimes, to resist sinful impulses, we need to modify our lifestyle to avoid tempting situations. This can include our thoughts. As believers, we should not entertain sinful thoughts (2 Corinthians 10:5) and must, instead, focus on good things (Philippians 4:8). As we allow our minds to be transformed by God and His goodness, there is less room for sinful thoughts to take hold and grow.

As we continue to fight against our sinful impulses with God’s help, we must remember the truth of who we are in Him. We are new creations, no longer slaves to sin, and are redeemed by the power and grace of God (Romans 6:17-18). Keeping these truths always in mind can help relieve the guilt and frustration we feel when dealing with sinful impulses.

understand

The impulse to sin can sometimes feel uncontrollable.
We can rely on God to help us deal with our sinful impulses.
Believers are free from our sinful nature and no longer enslaved to sin.

reflect

How can you actively remind yourself of your new identity in Christ when sinful impulses arise?
In what areas of your life can you make changes to avoid situations that lead to temptation or sinful thoughts?
How can you rely on God’s power, love, and self-control to strengthen your resolve to resist sinful impulses?

engage

How can we support each other in creating a lifestyle that helps us avoid sinful impulses and focuses on God?
What are practical ways we can encourage one another to take every thought captive and focus on things that honor God?
How can we help others understand that freedom from sin is not just about avoiding temptation, but embracing our new identity in Christ?