My sin is always before me. Psalm 51:3 (NIV)
Once you have identified an area of sin that you need to deal with, start watching for its movements in your life. Suppose you are stalking pride, lust, laziness, or unbelief. Ask, “When am I most vulnerable to this? In what ways do I see it being expressed?”
John Owen wrote extensively on this subject in the 17th Century, and his most famous book is called The Mortification of Sin. It has never been equaled, and although it’s not an easy read, you will find it profitable:
“Every unclean thought or glance would be adultery if it could. Every covetous desire would be oppression and every unbelieving thought would be atheism. Sin’s expression is modest in the beginning, but, once it has gained a foothold, it continues to take further ground” (p. 8).
“This is how men deal with their enemies. They search out their plans, ponder their goals, and consider how, and by what means they have prevailed over them in the past. Then they can be defeated. We need to trace this serpent in all of its turning and windings, and to bring its most secret tricks out into the open. We must learn to say—‘This is your usual method; I know what you are up to’” (p. 37).
Stalking sin means getting into a position where you can see sin’s movement in your life. Then you can take action against it. Don’t underestimate the importance of this. If there is a particular area of sin in your life and you do not move in on it, it will grow. The more your sin grows, the more difficult your battle will be, so it is all the more urgent that you begin your warfare now!
What sin do you need to begin stalking?
