Do This Immediately After FALLING INTO SEXUAL SIN|Don’t Run Or Hide

The first instinct after sinning is to blame oneself, suffer silent guilt and hide from God and people.

That’s what Adam and Eve did after eating the forbidden fruit. They hid in the bushes!

But there is a better way to get back in the ring and continue the fight against sexual temptations.

A son asked his father for his inheritance, travelled to a far land and squandered it in a short time. He became so poor that the only job available was to care for pigs and share their meals.

When he came to his senses, he decided to return to his father’s house and ask him for a job as a servant because he no longer felt worthy to be called his father’s son.

When the father saw him from afar off, he ran to him and hugged him. He took him in, dressed him in a beautiful robe, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

Then he made a huge party for the homecoming of his son. He said, “for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.” (Luke 15:24)

Jesus told this parable to demonstrate God’s willingness to give us a second chance when we return and repent.

Perhaps your friends or relatives introduced you to bad sexual habits. Maybe you experienced physical and emotional abuse that pushed you into a certain lifestyle. Or your upbringing left you struggling with feelings of being ugly, unwanted, unworthy and unclean.

Despite your past and wrong choices, God is waiting to restore, renew and reprogram your thinking so you can know and walk in your true identity in Jesus. Will you let Him help you?

Here is what to do when you fall into any sin;

#1: Acknowledge your responsibility for choosing to sin

You probably didn’t know better, but that doesn’t make you innocent. Accept you did wrong and ask God to forgive you. When He forgives you, He also chooses to forget your sin. (Read Hebrews 10:17, Psalms 103:12, 1 John 1:8-9)

#2: Forgive those who used you and hurt you

How will God forgive you if you’re unwilling to forgive those who hurt you or taught you sinful habits? (Matthew 6:14-15) Forgiveness brings freedom to your thoughts, emotions and spirit.

If possible, inform them that you’ve forgiven them. Then pray for them to change their ways too and do good to them if ever get an opportunity. (Read 6:27-36)

#3: Offer your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God

Are you ready to please God instead of pleasing your body? The offering of your body to God and keeping it pure is a form of worship that pleases God. (Romans 12:1-2)

“You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

#4: You may have messed but God can turn your mess into a message

Your painful life experiences can be a tool in His hands to warn many not to fall into the same pit you fell into. That’s why the Bible was written, so we can learn from the examples of those who went before us. (1 Corinthians 10:11)

After committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband, life moved on for David as if nothing had happened. He was so backslidden he ignored all the signals of wrongdoing!

Then Prophet Nathan confronted David and rebuked him wisely. That’s when it dawned on David how far he had fallen and repented immediately.

We learn his anguish from the book of Psalms 51. “Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin… Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight… Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again you have broken me – now let me rejoice.”

When we sin, we hurt our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ. We hurt God and grieve the Holy Spirit. It’s like we’re sacrificing Christ all over again on the cross. (Hebrews 6:6)

Repentance is the antidote to sin.

It’s acknowledging our rebelliousness against God, taking responsibility for our evil actions, confessing our sins before Him and asking Him to forgive and cleanse us by the blood of Jesus Christ.

That change of mind empowers us to forsake sin in mind and body as we put measures not to engage in it again.

As I mentioned before, touching or caressing a woman is a sin I committed when I was single. Later, I began having sexual dreams that led to wet dreams. This continued even during the first years of our marriage.

While writing this book (Sex Smart Single), it dawned on me I had not understood the gravity of lust that leads to touching, kissing or stimulating another person sexually. I repented of my sexual sins. Months later, I realized that sexual dreams were no longer a regular occurrence.

True repentance has the power to break bad habits, cancel curses and certain consequences of sins and lead to restoration. That’s why it’s important to continue learning and obeying the doctrine or teachings of Christ, only then shall He reveal the truth to us and set us free! (John 8:31-32, 2 John 1:9)

When you’re caught in a sin, rather than run to hide the way Adam and Eve did, run to God and ask Him to forgive you.

Perhaps you’re wondering whether God’s forgiveness is total and complete. Listen to what the Bible says:

“But if we confess our sins to him,

he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”

(1 John 1:9)

“He has removed our sins as far from us

as the east is from the west.”

(Psalm 103:12)

“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

I will make them as white as snow.

Though they are red like crimson,

I will make them as white as wool.”

(Isaiah 1:18)

And when Satan attempts to take you on a guilt and shame trip, refuse to enter his ride. Remind him of God’s total forgiveness and Christ’s blood that has totally cleansed you of all sin. (1 John 1:7, Ephesians 1:7) He can accuse you no more before God!

Don’t wait to feel forgiven. Trust God’s Word. He has forgiven you.

Now go and start applying the FLEE Plan for overcoming sexual temptations and living a pure life.

Thank you for reading this article. I welcome your comments and questions – as iron sharpens iron, let’s sharpen each other.

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Bible illustrations are from Sweet Publishing; http://sweetpublishing.com/freebibleimages.org

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.