Satan attacks the low hanging fruit in our lives. We have to be very careful and watchful of that! What is our low hanging fruit? Sin. And more importantly, it is our sins that we always turn to. The ones we find ourselves confessing time and time again. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God! But there isn't much hope in that unless you keep on reading!Romans 3:24-26 gives us hope:
They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as an expiation, through faith, by his blood, to prove his righteousness because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed, through the forbearance of God—to prove his righteousness in the present time, that he might be righteous and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
What are your apples? How do you find them? There are millions of ways but one that has helped me is a daily reflection just before going to bed. It's important for me to do this just before bed because it doesn't take much for me to add another sin to my day unless I'm asleep!
We definitely need to know what our sins are!
Proverbs 28:13 People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and forsake them obtain mercy.
Colossians 3:5-6 Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.
Because of these the wrath of God is coming
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
At first it was difficult to even remember what my sins throughout the day were. I don't practice sorcery or orgies or drinking bouts (well...maybe I best be more cautious about that last one!). I do have moments of envy, selfishness, fury, rivalry.
Still, with all my daily sins I'd lay in bed wondering if perhaps I'm perfect after all! Far from the truth. As I continued doing this it became clearer what my sins are and what sins I seem to constantly repeat. Now I have become more aware of when I sin in the reflection at night and even when I sin during the day. This has also helped to avoid sin before it happens. I am realizing what situations lead me to sin and avoiding those traps throughout the day.
Our pastor Fr. Cook said in a homily recently we must not dialogue with our sin. I thought that was fascinating since sometimes I do that! He likened it to our not eating meat on Friday's. We could go days without eating any meat without issue but once we realize we can't have it we begin to think about it more. That gets us into the dialogue and could eventually lead to us just throwing up our hands and giving in to that steak!
As I have become more aware of my sins and what things lead me to those sins it can be tougher to avoid them. When I begin to have that dialogue in my head about them! Why shouldn't I be able to do that? Why did God create that rule? Society says it's ok to do that. I need to become more aware of what leads me to sin. If it's gossip is there a way I can avoid that sin? Do I need to go to the extreme of avoiding people I gossip with? Satan won't help us here. If gossip is a low hanging apple Satan will make sure that it's difficult for me to avoid. Satan has many traps and temptations!
As I have become more aware of my sins and what things lead me to those sins it can be tougher to avoid them. When I begin to have that dialogue in my head about them! Why shouldn't I be able to do that? Why did God create that rule? Society says it's ok to do that. I need to become more aware of what leads me to sin. If it's gossip is there a way I can avoid that sin? Do I need to go to the extreme of avoiding people I gossip with? Satan won't help us here. If gossip is a low hanging apple Satan will make sure that it's difficult for me to avoid. Satan has many traps and temptations!
1 Timothy 6:9 Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.
And most importantly:
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