What it Means to Stand Firm

My struggle with chronic sin started early. I discovered pornography when I was 11. That hook was set deep in my flesh. Recently, I had an insight on what it means to stand firm.

We can see this echoed many times throughout the epistles. Stand firm. Resist the enemy.

Yet, most of us fail at this charge. We fall back into the same sinful behaviors and thoughts. Why does it feel so impossible to break free?

Standing Firm Against Chronic Sin

I wish that I’d had better guidance as a young man. I had good weeks and bad weeks, but my track record was terrible when it came to standing firm against chronic sin. My struggle with lust was a big part of why I abandoned my faith at 19.

I used to think that this failure was simply the byproduct of unrepentance. But, I have come to believe that a lot of our struggle is rooted in ignorance. We are deceived, first by the enemy, then by ourselves.

The devil is a patient, calculating enemy. He does not rest. The only reason he gives us any respite at all is because he knows we will start to think we’re doing better and lower our guard.

The First Lie Satan Tells

The first lie Satan tells is not, “It doesn’t matter. Who will even know?” You don’t start thinking that way until you already KNOW that you’re considering a wrong choice.

The first lie is far more subtle. He simply helps us convince ourselves to view our struggle as a select group of discrete activities. Murder is the sin. Adultery is the sin. Porn is the sin. Drinking is the sin. Drugs are the sin.

As you begin to accept that you have a chronic struggle, he puts in overtime shaming you for the most destructive behavior. He wants you to be wholly focused on “the” sin. He wants you to define your struggle as that final behavior when you “give in”.

If you accept his point of view, the lies are much easier to swallow. And, they start rolling in: “This is not the sin. This doesn’t even have to lead to that. This is fine.”

We do this throughout our lives. We do it with the media we consume, how we approach work and our hobbies. It shows up in how we respond to our thoughts and feelings.

What it Means to Stand Firm

Knowing that we face a chronic struggle against sin can be overwhelming. When my flesh is so weak in this area, how can I experience what it means to stand firm?

You must learn that you are always moving in the direction you’re headed. All steps lead somewhere.

Satan is patient and knows exactly how to weaken us. He will always lead us to the place where it is hardest to resist the next step toward self destruction.

You cannot walk in victory if you’re willing to follow the devil to the battleground of his choosing.

What is the root of the sin which is causing you to move in the wrong direction? Is it pride? Anger? Greed? Sloth?

Ask God to open your eyes and show you the scope of your sin. In this area of my life, my enemy was never pornography. The struggle was always against lust.

When he reveals your sin, start taking action. The Bible does not instruct us to stand as close as possible to our sin. We are told to stand firm against it.

Don’t walk up to the edge before you decide to fight. You’re going to lose.

Prayer for Today

My prayer for today is that God would continue to reveal the areas of my life where I am blind to the scope of my sin. I am asking him to show me the ways that I’m ignoring the Holy Spirit, thinking, “It’s ok. This isn’t a sin.”

But, in allowing myself to view porn as my sin, I blinded myself to all of the more subtle ways ways that lust influenced my thoughts and behaviors.

I am resolved to set my battle lines there–to stand firm. The fight will take place on the ground of my choosing, strengthened by my time in prayer and the word of god. I will no longer blindly follow him to the places he wants to destroy me. I will stand firm without taking a single step.

Scriptures about What it Means to Stand Firm

There are a lot of scriptures about standing firm, but this one of my favorites. It is Ephesians 6:10-18.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”