When the Lord Jesus Christ died on the Cross and rose again, He forever broke the power of sin over the believer. It means that every believer has the power through Christ to resist sin. The excuse “The Devil made me do it” can never truthfully be used again.

It also means that no sin can ever condemn you to Hell again – because Jesus paid for all your sin. His mercy and goodness, however, do not offer an excuse to sin, neither will He overlook it.

In the above verse, Paul points out that the believer is free from the law – but only in the sense that it can never condemn them again. But Paul, out of thankfulness to God, and realizing all the blessings that God wants to show him (and all believers today), says that he will not permit himself to become a servant of sin again.

It does not mean that he would never sin again, but that he chooses to not let sin of any kind rob him of the sweet fellowship with Christ that he so much enjoys. He also does not want to hurt the Savior that forgave him and called him to serve Him.

Christians today need to take the same attitude. If you are not free to serve God, and able, you are not free. Paul said this about the Roman believers, in Romans 6:17: “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”

Do you love the Lord that much, that you do not want to be under the power of any sin again? Are you still a servant (frequently commit the same one) of some sin? Do you really want victory over it?

There are times when our bodies grow weary. It is especially true after a hard day’s work and as we grow older. Our bodies can get refreshed afterward by resting, drinking or eating – or a combination of them.

It is also possible to get weary in your daily service for the Lord. Because it is contrary to the flesh, but must be performed in the flesh, it can cause some weariness.

In the above verse, Paul speaks about getting refreshed in spirit. Increased age can mean it takes longer to get refreshed physically, but Paul says that you can be spiritually strengthened “day by day.”

This inner strengthening enables God’s servants to continue to teach that class, preach, witness, pray, etc. It is the Holy Spirit who does the work of refreshing our spirit, so you must be in tune with Him to know His power. Paul said that God’s renewing in his spirit refreshes him “day by day” so that he does not “faint” (quit).

When you get weary, it is necessary to get in your prayer closet and spend some time talking with the Lord. He will refresh you. At the same time, your flesh may also need a break – and maybe a good nap.

God gives us the tools to enable us to keep going for Him, but it may be occasionally necessary to “come apart” from the busyness of Christian service for a few hours. Stay faithful and His strength will come.

This verse demonstrates the ability of the Word to give victory over sin. The words “none of his steps shall slide” refers to its power to keep you close to God and away from the world.

There is always a danger of going back to the world: it offers many attractions, false promises, and empty satisfaction. All of which can never satisfy the soul of those who know God through Jesus Christ. Jesus warned, in Matthew 24:12: “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” This coldness of heart toward God, the Word, and the local church, are what the Word can keep you from.

For the believer, victory is always a choice. God will never force you to have it. The Holy Spirit dwelling inside is there to help you want to get that victory, but you must stay focused on the Word and its principles for life.

Notice that the Word must be in your heart. The heart is the place where your true emotions, motives, drives, etc., reside. You need to let the Word influence your heart and be willing to follow it – with God’s help. When the Word indicates a change in direction and activity is needed – you heed it.

One of the best ways to put the Word of God in your heart is to memorize various verses – especially those that promise victory. Then, deliberately run them through your mind during the day as reminders of His will and power.

It is good for believers to look back every now and then at what we were before salvation. No matter what age you were when you were saved, the Bible declares that we were all “dead in trespasses and sins” prior to salvation.

You may not have been a big sinner, especially if you were saved as a child, but it must be remembered that it only takes one sin to be a sinner. This brings everyone to need to pay “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

Once saved, God immediately quickened us. That means He made us alive – now capable of doing righteousness and pleasing Him. Before we were the sons of darkness and of the Devil, but now we have been made the sons of God (John 1:12).

Along with that new quickening and sonship, we also have the power to resist sin and allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us. In fact, that old sin nature is to be considered dead, and we can live in the new life He gave us.

If and when we sin, we also have an Advocate with the Father – “Jesus Christ the righteous” (I John 2:1). He helps us to get forgiven and cleansed when we ask Him. It enables us to go on and shows that He loves us still.

Are you walking in the quickening power of the Holy Spirit, or according to the works of the flesh?

Remember that serving Jesus alone brings victory over sin, real joy, and blessing.

David knew very well what lay within his heart. The inclinations he faced – as well as every other human – was not good and always tend to lead away from God when followed.

Because he knew that it was possible that those inclinations and temptations would lead away from God, he asked God to help him get victory over “any iniquity.” He did not want any sin to dwell in his heart.

Beyond seeking to get victory over sin, David desired to live the way God wanted. This is much more than merely keeping commandments and not doing certain things.

It would involve fellowship with God. Religion is not enough, not only will it not save the soul, but it also cannot enable one to please God.

God wants personal fellowship with you. This was God’s purpose in creating man in the first place. Unfortunately, so many professing Christians are satisfied with mere duty and gaining Bible knowledge than fellowship, All are important.

Close fellowship with our Lord also provides both the desire to serve God and the power to do so. Time spent in the Bible, along with prayer and praise are not an option for strong believers.

Can you with David pray the prayer in the text verse: “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.“

Near the end of His earthly life, when the leaders of Israel were determined to put Jesus to death, He spoke these words. Because of the impossibility, they are words that no mere human can utter.

Considering Who Jesus was, He had great power to do miracles. He commanded the wind and the waves and even death was no match for Him. Earlier, the Bible tells us that the Son of God was the One Who created all things, as seen in John 1:3: “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” It is also seen in Colossians 1:16: “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.”

Without a doubt, there was no force on earth – or outside of it, that could overpower the Creator. The only way Jesus could ever die was for Him to permit it to happen. Even if He did not do it, He still had power over the angels, and they could have prevented it – if He wanted them to.

In John 10:15, Jesus prophesied that He would die for His sheep (disciples). He said: “As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.” In this same verse, He also prophesied that He would come back to life – by His power.

Jesus soon coming crucifixion, burial, and resurrection were all planned before the earth was created. God would show His love for the world through what Jesus would do for us on the Cross and coming back to life – with a new and immortal Body.

You only have one chance to get God’s forgiveness. If you miss it and die without getting saved, there is no second chance. Trust God’s willingness to forgive and love for you and make Him your Savior today.

Before uttering these words, Jesus had once again told His disciples that He would first suffer and then be leaving them soon. Although they were saddened by the news, they did not understand it.

In the same way, we also are sometimes saddened by news and events that occur in our lives. It could be the death of a loved one, news of cancer or some other disease, world news, etc., but the truth is that Jesus’ reply to their sadness still can help today.

He told them the things in this verse so that even when they do face tribulation or persecution, or possibly even death, that they can still have inner peace in the face of it. Even more than that, He told them that it is possible you could also “be of good cheer” in those times.

In other words, you do not need to be defeated by events or circumstances, even though there may be anguish and pain involved. God wants His born-again children to be overcomers, and He gives them the grace and power to do so. Faith in His promises enables victory.

Are you utilizing His grace and power now so that – at the end of the day – you are an overcomer? If you need to, why not admit your weakness and ask Him for help right now?