Grow in Godliness by Putting Sin to Death

"Be killing sin or it will be killing you." (John Owen, The Mortification of Sin in Believers). This principle is drawn from Romans 8:13 which says: "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." We have a call to wage war against the "deeds of the body." Meaning, to put to death sin in our lives.  Of course, it is only by the Spirit of God that we can be killing sin, but it is still true that we are commanded to do this work. So, how can we engage in battle?
 
Pick an area of behavior or an attitude that God would want you to change. To do this, look for ways your life and behavior doesn't line up with Scripture (you may find a lot of areas, but don't be discouraged. It is a sign of God's grace that you have eyes to see your sin). Then pick the one that seems biggest in your life right now. Then, study what God's word says about that sin and the opposite fruit of righteousness you are to grow in (the Bible doesn't just tell us to stop sinning, it also tells us to put on righteousness). Then, wage war on on the sin and seek to grow in the grace of God. Ask God to strengthen you and don't be afraid to ask a trusted Christian friend to hold you accountable in the area you seeking to grow in.

This warfare is year round, 24 x 7. There is no "off season." But the Summer provides a good opportunity to step back, assess the various fronts of the war, and strategize on how to make forward progress in resisting sin and temptation. If you have a specific issue to work on, but need some help thinking through how to best battle it, check out Christian Counseling Eduction Foundation's (CCEF) website and search to see if they have any videos, articles, or mini-books (you have to purchase these) to help you get started.