"Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin." Psalm 19:13 (NLT)

I knew the world was seeing a flash of white thighs and cellulite. Somehow in the gust of a whirlwind, my long gypsy-like skirt flew straight up and over my head. I tried to bat in down, but it stood stubbornly straight up like a corn stalk. It seemed the garment had a mind of its own. The more I struggled to keep it down, the higher it flew. (At least my face was covered and no one would know who owned those stocky dimpled legs.)

The skirt was my favorite attire. I adored the fabric. The colors displayed were bright and varied. Dark rusts, velvet black, and fireman red circled around the turquoise satin. Golden metallic threads highlighted the colors like trees on an autumn day. The skirt's bohemian qualities tickled my eccentric personality. That is until the day of the whirlwind, because the skirt continued to behave badly.

Later the same day, I was attempting to go through security at McCarran International Airport. For some reason, I set off the metal detector—twice. The security personnel sent me to the "wand and pat down area." The wand floated across the lower part of my body. Beep, beep, and beep--it warned. I was completely flummoxed. Why was I setting off these metal detectors?

After much wand waving, hand patting, and scrutinizing it was determined that the metal threads in my skirt were the cause of the security breach. What? My unruly skirt seemed intent on deliberately ruining my day. The security guards suggested I not wear the flagrant fabric again to the airport. I agreed whole-heartedly.

These two episodes caused me to reflect about sin—especially deliberate sin. There are certain sins that I don't want to give up because I like them. They are comfortable. They might even appear "cute" to my friends. However, as a follower of Christ, I must not allow sin to control me—even when others approve.

Sin doesn't fit a follower of Christ. We have to put on love, put on righteousness, and put on grace.

Later in the evening, I made the decision to part with my beloved bohemian skirt. I did not want a repeat of the airport episode. I also chose to part with one of my deliberate sins—laughing at others when they are caught off guard in a ridiculous situation like I was in. Yes, I used to laugh at others and think to myself, "So, how did that work out for you?"

Not now! Because I flashed the world with my thunder thighs and set off the airport alarms all because of one strong-willed, metallic-thread skirt, I don't snicker anymore. I quickly pray, "Mercy, Lord. Help her!"

Dear Lord, set off an alarm in my head when I contemplate committing a deliberate sin. I ask for the Holy Spirit to strengthen me in my resolve. Keep me free of sin and guilt. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

***

Related Resources:

Do You Know Jesus?



Perplexing Proverbs for Women Bible study by Susanne Scheppmann

Confessions of an Adulterous Christian Woman: Lies that Got Me There, Truths that Brought Me Back by Lyndell Hetrick Holtz

Visit Susanne's blog as well as her resource page

Application Steps:

Take a spiritual inventory of known sins in your life. Ask a friend to hold you accountable for ridding yourself of particular sins that have a hold on you. Decide today that you will not allow sin to control you any longer.

Reflections:

Do I have a favorite sin in my life?

Why does it have a foothold in my life? What benefit does it seem bring?

How can I eliminate it?

Power Verses:

Psalm 119:133, "Establish my steps and direct them by [means of] Your word; let not any iniquity have dominion over me." (AMP) (emphasis added)

Psalm 18:32, "Is not this the God who armed me, then aimed me in the right direction?" (MSG)

Romans 6:11-12, "In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires." (NIV)

© 2009 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.