It’s that time of year again when everyone begins making resolutions, as if this year is going to be different from last year, right? We tell ourselves, “I really mean it this time!” Yet – is that not what we said last year and the year before that?
Does it ever frustrate you to live in the constant roller coaster of willpower and failure? As you begin pulling out the workout equipment, or cleansing the cabinets of good tasting food take a minute and reflect – why is it, that in the battle of willpower against the desires of my heart, do my good intentions always lose? Be honest with yourself. Over the last several years, how many New Year’s resolutions have you actually kept? How many new leafs have you turned over, only to turn them back over a couple of weeks later?
Brothers and sisters, we must understand something about ourselves. Our external behavior will always follow our heart. The heart is the factory that produces attitudes, words, and behavior. So long as the heart desires chocolate over bean sprouts you will inevitably choose the chocolate – even if you resist for a while you will give in to the Hershey’s kiss left over from Christmas. Your desire for sleep and warmth will smother to death the desire to get up and jog three miles in 30-degree weather.
The same is true of our attempts to defeat sinful habits and create godly disciplines in our life like Bible reading, prayer, and personal evangelism. You may avoid watching certain shows for a while, or you may stay away from alcohol or pornography for a few weeks, but you will inevitably give into the desire of your heart and indulge in sin and avoid the spiritual disciplines.
Is there any hope then? “Why bother?” some of you may be asking. There is hope. The key is to stop focusing your energy on cleaning up your behavior and realize that until your heart is changed, your behavior will not. If you run water through a coffee filter filled with grounds the water will come out black and bitter tasting. Until you change the filter the water will continually be stained and tainted, regardless of how much water you run through it. The same is true of our hearts. Until the desires of your heart change, your behavior will be continuously stained and tainted. Jesus said, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting, and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man,” (Mark 7:21-23).
Sinful habits and addictions will only be cured when the heart is transformed. Only when God transforms your heart will you trust in him, obey him, and follow him, “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances,”(Ezekiel 36:26-27). If you read through the book of Deuteronomy, God continually told the people to circumcise their hearts, rend their hearts, or they would not obey. External conformity to a religious rule or self imposed rule will only last temporarily. The desire of the heart will always overcome.
The key then, to defeating sin in your life, to conquering unhealthy habits and to transforming your life into the resolved life we always dream about is by focusing on your heart. What your heart desires your behavior gives. You must change your wants and wishes. Initially you must be regenerated – given the new heart of the Holy Spirit who will cause you to walk in God’s ways. As a believer then you must cultivate new desires, ultimately a desire for God Himself, and the rest will follow. “Delight yourself in the Lord; and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4). The only way you will defeat the idolatry in your life is if your delight in God is greater than your delight in your sinful behavior. That means then that the only way you will keep a New Year’s resolution this year is if your change your desires. Remember until you start wanting the bean sprouts, you will always choose the chocolate.
By Phil Bray
Pastor, FBC Puxico