Q. I think that King David is an example of how many believers obey God’s law … somewhat. They obey faithfully for a bit, then some temptation leads them astray and then they repent and walk the line again, then sin again, etc. If you are truly striving to follow God’s laws and fall into sin, then truly, wholeheartedly repent, trying not to sin again, wouldn’t God, through the blood of Jesus Christ, forgive over “seventy times seven”? It isn’t done on purpose, but man’s weakness in some often overpowers them, though prayer seems to hold them for a short time. I believe in the power of prayer, but sometimes wonder why it is answered toward some, giving strength to resist sin, and not toward others.
As a wise Christian I knew often used to say, “If you sin occasionally, you need forgiveness. If you sin continually, you need healing.”
A sin that a genuine, sincere believer simply can’t seem to stop committing is sometimes called a “besetting sin.” Its presence points to the fact is that there is some need in the believer’s life, some area of hurt, and the believer is trying to find relief through the sinful activity. So I would counsel anyone who is struggling with a sin that they just can’t seem to overcome to examine their lives, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal any past hurts that need healing. This can be a very painful exercise if it is done honestly, and so it is best done with the help of trusted advisors who love you, don’t judge you, and only want the best for you.
One good way to word the question is, “What are you feeding?” It may be food or some other substance that is being abused, or it may be some activity in life that is good within God-ordained limits but is being pushed far beyond those limits. “Feeding” is a figure of speech. But the idea is that the believer is “feeding” the need or hurt by committing the sin, as if the need or hurt were a hunger that needed to be satisfied, but actually can never be satisfied in that way. Instead, the hurt must be healed and the need must be met through God’s saving grace in our lives. I hope the analogy is helpful.
The good news is that I have seen many people find release from a besetting sin by receiving healing from God. I wish the same for all who read this post who are currently in the same struggle.
Good Question 