Responsibility

responsibility - How much responsibility do I bear for my actions? Sometimes I feel like I can’t help doing certain things.

Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. . . . Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

Romans 6:12, 14

Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.

Romans 6:16

[The LORD God asked,] “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”

Genesis 3:11-12

ONE OF SATAN’S GREAT LIES is that we are victims who have no power to resist our impulses. In reality, everything we do is the result of choices we make, and we are responsible for those choices. While it’s hard to resist certain temptations and always make good decisions, blaming others for our bad choices hinders us from lives of freedom and happiness. The good news is that God is more powerful than anything that tries to control us. Whenever you feel powerless to resist your impulses or trapped in your sin, stop and pray for God’s help. The more you move toward God in moments of temptation, the more you move away from your temptation. God can break the chains that hold you and help you develop the strength to say no.

Prayer Prompts

Lord, sometimes I use this excuse for my sinful actions: . . .

Your Word encourages me to take responsibility for my actions by . . .