Let me begin with a direct question: What are you avoiding confronting in your life that you know needs to change?

It is easy—far too easy—to ignore ungodly attitudes, habits, and emotions by shrugging and saying, “That’s just who I am.” We may even justify our weaknesses by pointing to our upbringing, painful experiences, or the shortcomings of others. And while some of those influences may indeed have been negative, none of them excuse us from God’s calling to overcome.

Scripture repeatedly reminds us that we are to overcome, to be victorious, to conquer. The Greek verb nikaó—from which we get “Nike”—means to conquer, to prevail, to be victorious. And in Revelation, every one of the seven churches is exhorted with the same command: overcome.

What Are You Excusing Instead of Overcoming?

What tendency, attitude, or behavior do you quietly tell yourself “God understands” because of your circumstances?

• Outbursts of anger?

• Addictive patterns with alcohol, drugs, pornography, or video games?

• Deep-seated attitudes you’ve allowed to remain unchallenged for years?

Yes, God is patient, merciful, and compassionate. Christ Himself lived in the flesh and fully understands our weaknesses. But Scripture is equally clear: God does not reward those who refuse to overcome. Doing nothing—spiritual passivity—is not an option.

So how do we actually move forward, conquer, and put off the “old man” that our past may have helped create?

1. Stop Blaming Others

Whether it was a parent, an absent parent, a harsh minister, a difficult childhood—whatever it may have been—blaming others cannot be the foundation of our spiritual identity. I have known people well into their 50s still blaming their mother for their ongoing sin.

At some point we must say, “Enough. That was my past—but it will not define my future.”

2. Be Honest With God and Seek His Power

God already knows our weaknesses. He is not shocked or repelled by our struggles. What He wants is honesty.

Pray for His power—through the Holy Spirit—to change. Genuine overcoming is not done by human willpower alone but by divine strength.

3. Remove the Stumbling Block—Radically if Necessary

Repentance means turning around. Sometimes that turn requires drastic action.

• If gaming addiction is destroying your life, remove the console.
• If your devices funnel spiritually destructive content into your home, get rid of them.
• If a certain environment, app, or habit leads repeatedly to sin, eliminate it.

Christ’s teaching in Matthew 5:29 is clear: He is not advocating bodily harm but urging us to remove whatever causes us to sin—decisively, courageously, immediately.

For some, that stumbling block may literally be the be an electronic device.

4. Get Support and Rewire the Brain

Addictive behaviors often rewire the brain through dopamine cycles. That means temptation can feel like gravity—it pulls.

But new habits can rewire the mind in the opposite direction.

• Replace temptation moments with positive actions—exercise, prayer, productive activity.
• Surround yourself with people who model godly choices.
• Seek accountability. Have someone you can call.

Paul wrote, “Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits.”

The reverse is also true: Good company strengthens righteous habits.

5. Don’t Give Up

You may stumble. You may fall back. Do not excuse it—but also do not destroy yourself with discouragement.

Instead:

• Identify what led to the setback.
• Repent. (Luke 13:5)
• Rise again. (prov 24:16)
• Continue seeking God’s power.

Overcoming is not a single event but a spiritual trajectory.

God Rewards the Overcomers

The promises of God are not given to the passive, but to the victorious.

Christ said, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world,” and the very One who overcame now lives in us through the Holy Spirit.

“You are of God, little children and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” —1 John 4:4

Brethren, let us be overcomers—not in our own strength, but through the power of the One who has already overcome the world.

“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”

—Revelation 21:7

And remember verse 8: the very first group listed among those who do not receive eternal life is the cowardly—those who refused to confront, resist, and overcome.

Let us be courageous. Let us face what must change.

Let us overcome—through Him, the All Victorious Jesus Christ

I pray all have a peaceful and spiritually uplifting Sabbath.