“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 tried to break habits or sinful desires, only to find ourselves failing again and again. Why is it so difficult to stop thinking about something we know displeases God?
The answer is 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. But here’s the other side of the coin: hatred can destroy desire. If we learn to hate what God hates, we begin to develop a holy repulsion toward those things. That is 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!” And Proverbs 8:13 (NKJV) reminds us, “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.”
When sinful desires are allowed to linger unchecked, they lead us into disobedience. Disobedience creates distance in our fellowship with God and opens the door for guilt, shame, and condemnation. Unless we address the root issue—loving what God hates—we remain stuck in a cycle we cannot break by willpower alone.
Too often we say, “That’s it—I’ll never do this again!” But unless our thinking changes, our behavior won’t. Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) tells us, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Our thoughts shape our desires, and our desires shape our actions.
Real transformation begins when we align our thinking 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.” Renewal happens when we replace distorted thinking with God’s perspective—His truth, His wisdom, His direction.
Take pornography as an example. Many struggle because they’ve convinced themselves it’s harmless or private. But when we begin to see it through God’s eyes, everything changes.
When I first became a Christian, I wrestled with this issue. Then God began to shift my thinking. I started seeing the people involved not as objects, but as image-bearers of God—often deeply wounded, manipulated, abused, or broken. They were someone’s daughters or sons, created by God to know Him and live blessed lives.
Instead of indulging in lust, I began to pray for them. I asked God to rescue them, to heal their hearts, and to bring them into freedom. As my perspective changed, so did my desires. My love for what God loves—and my hatred for what He hates—began to reshape my heart. The temptation lost much of its power because my thinking had changed.
The same principle applies to overeating, greed, bitterness, pride, or any other sinful pattern. Ask God to show you the truth. Reflect on the damage sin causes—to you, to others, and to your relationship with Him. Pray for those affected. Let your heart come into agreement with His.
When we hate sin because of the destruction it brings, we grow stronger in resisting it. As Proverbs 23:7 reminds us, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” If we think in godly ways, we begin to live in godly ways.
When temptation strikes, don’t rely on willpower alone. Ask God to reshape your thinking. Love what He loves. Hate what He hates. Spend time prayerfully meditating on what is good and what is evil—and why. Let the Holy Spirit build conviction in your heart.
God did not give us the capacity to hate so we could harm people. He gave it to us so we would recoil from evil. When we see others commit sin, we do not hate them—we hate the sin. They, like us, are people who need Jesus. We can hate the sin and still love the sinner.
When we begin to see temptation through God’s eyes, it loses its grip. We are no longer drawn toward it—we are repelled by it. And for that we give glory to God.
Let’s pray as Psalm 97:10 instructs: “You who love the LORD, hate evil!” And let’s hold fast to the promise of Romans 12:2—that as our minds are renewed, we will discover God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will.
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.”
