There’s a section of Romans 7, which drives me crazy.

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. (Romans 7:14-20 NIV)

See what I mean? What a tongue twister!

It’s also depressing. I mean, if even the writer of Romans, the Apostle Paul, couldn’t stop doing what he didn’t want to do…is there even any point in trying to break those pesky bad habits? I mean, if we keep doing what we don’t want to do despite our best intentions?

Well, yes. There is a point. Habitual sin can be stopped, but we need help. Simply “knowing” what we’re doing is wrong doesn’t seem to be enough motivation to stop. We can’t seem to stop on our own, using our own strength. And simply becoming a Christian also isn’t enough to change us like some sort of magical cure. So what then?

Chuck Swindoll in his message Steps that Lead to Freedom addresses this exact situation. Simply wanting to do the right thing isn’t enough—we need to be transformed from within, changed. Freed from the bondage of sin.

In his message Chuck offers instructions for conquering those “tough” sins in life:

• Lying
• Uncontrolled anger
• Stealing
• Unwholesome words
• Lack of forgiveness

This message inspires me to no longer be a victim to sin, but to really believe I can be free from it. I don’t need to lament about doing what I don’t want to do—I have the tools to be free and to stop sinning, I just need to use them!

Believe it or not, you can be free from sin too.

This important message is available to stream online.