Fresh Mannaby Pastor Tim Burt“Mind over matter.” It’s a phrase we’ve all heard, suggesting that sheer willpower is enough to overcome any challenge. But let’s be honest—how often does that really work? Many of us have struggled to break habits or sinful desires, only to fail time and again. Why is it so difficult to stop thinking about something we know displeases God?The answer lies in love. What we love, we desire. When we direct our love and affection toward things that dishonor God, those desires take root and grow stronger. On the flip side, hatred can destroy desire. If we learn to hate what God hates, we’ll develop a repulsion for those things. And that’s the key—redirecting our love and using God-given hatred in the right way.Hatred aimed at people is always wrong, but hatred toward sin is not. In fact, God created the emotion of hatred to generate a repulsion for evil. As Psalm 97:10 (NKJV) says, “You who love the LORD, hate evil!” Similarly, Proverbs 8:13 (NKJV) reminds us, “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.” When we allow sinful desires to persist, they lead us into disobedience. This not only separates us from God but also opens the door for guilt, shame, and condemnation to take hold. Without addressing the root of the problem—our love for what God hates—we remain trapped in a cycle of sin.Too often, we try to overcome sin by sheer willpower. We promise ourselves, “That’s it, I’ll never do this again!” But unless we transform our thinking, we’ll fall back into the same patterns. Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) tells us, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”Real change begins when we align our thoughts with God’s truth. Romans 12:2 (NKJV) says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This renewal happens when we replace our “stinking thinking” with God’s truth, direction, and wisdom.Let’s take pornography as an example. Many struggle with it because they’ve convinced themselves it’s harmless or enjoyable. But when we start seeing it the way God does, everything changes. When I first became a Christian, I wrestled with this issue. Then, God shifted my thinking.I began to see the people involved not as objects, but as victims of sin and brokenness. I thought about the pain these women (and men) endured—many were abused as children, and manipulated, or forced into this lifestyle. They were someone’s daughters (or sons) created by God to know Him and live blessed lives.Instead of indulging in lust, I prayed for them. I asked God to rescue them, to heal their hearts, and to bring them out of darkness. Over time, my love for what God loves and hatred for what He hates transformed my desires. The temptation lost its power because my perspective changed.Whether it’s pornography, overeating, greed, or any other sinful desire, the process is the same. Ask God to help you see the truth. Focus on the harm sin causes—how it hurts you, others, and grieves God. Pray for those affected, and let your heart align with His.When we hate sin for the destruction it brings, we develop the strength to resist it. As Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) says, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he..." Thisreminds us, our thoughts shape our actions. If we think in godly ways, we’ll begin to live in godly ways.When temptation strikes, don’t rely on willpower alone. Instead, ask God to reshape your thoughts. Love what He loves and hate what He hates. Spend time prayerfully meditating on what is good and what is bad and why! Let the Holy Spirit help build your case for both. Use that hatred—not for people, but for sin—to destroy the desires that pull you away from Him.This is why God gave us the capacity to hate—not to harm, but to help us turn from evil. And when we see other commit evil, we don't hate them. We hate the evil they commit. But they like you and I, are someone that is still lost and needs Jesus. So we can hate the sin but love the sinner! When we see temptation through God’s eyes, it loses its grip on us. We’re no longer drawn to it, but repelled by it. And for that we say, "Glory to God!"Let’s pray as David did in Psalm 97:10: “You who love the Lord, hate evil!” And let’s remember the promise in Romans 12:2—that as our minds are renewed, we’ll discover God’s perfect will and live in victory.
Romans 12:2 (NIV) "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."
In His love,Pastor Tim Burt
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