For something to take root and have influence, you have to surrender to it and permit it to take authority. 

I have to remind myself of this often because I love to shift blame and pretend I have no choice — I’m helpless to the power of something.

Sounds stupid, right? 

I’m starting to realize that this victim mentality I’ve become comfortable with is really telling of a deeper issue — I’m not surrendering to the Lordship of Christ. 

In failing to do so, I submit myself to every emotion while claiming to be a victim. 

It’s ridiculous.

I must stop giving power to the unhealthy things 

that want to take control in my life.

It’s like God told Cain, “If you do well, will you not be accepted. And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. AND ITS DESIRE IS FOR YOU, BUT YOU SHOULD RULE OVER IT.” (Genesis 4:7)

Cain had a choice to make. 

He wasn’t powerless to his anger. 

He wasn’t a victim of circumstances and justified in his anger. 

He had the option to rule over his sin or let it rule over him. 

He chose to let his anger take control. 

Cain gave sin room to work and move and destroy and it evolved into something much bigger — murder.

This is true for us too. 

Whatever we allow to take control in our lives will ultimately evolve into something bigger. 

We can’t flirt with simple sin and the false modesty of “I can’t” because sin is never satisfied with small.

Once it has a foothold in our lives, it takes liberties with other areas. 

“Sin’s desire is for you!” 

It wants to trip you up, make you ineffective, and steal your focus off Jesus.

“But you should rule over it.” 

Identify it for what it is.

Eradicate it from your mind and heart before it takes root and spreads like a weed and chokes out the truth.

How do you identify it? 

Scripture. 

God’s Word exposes the lies of sin and gives us the key to victory and healing and hope.

And the only way to truly experience victory over our sin is through the power of Jesus Christ. 

He defeated sin and death and gave us victory through His blood, but we only have this victory when we surrender to His Lordship.