6 Practices to Stop Sin in Its Tracks
by Annie Yorty
In the last few weeks, we’ve seen sin plastered across the news headlines. Pundits seek to explain or justify sin, often contorting Scripture to fit their narrative.
Sin on Full Display
On September 10th, in the wake of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, I heard a pundit on MSNBC say, “I always go back to hateful thoughts, lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.”
A moment later, he added, “You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have, and then saying these awful words, and then not expect awful actions to take place.”1
My first response to his point was, “Right on!”
Jesus said, “The words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander” (Matthew 15:18-19 NLT).
James further explained the progression of sin. “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death” (James 1:14-15 NLT).
Twisted Scripture
As the commentator continued, however, he suggested the assassin couldn’t help but act violently because of because of so-called “hateful” speech from Charlie Kirk. He rationalized that the unwanted speech of one person will justifiably produce the sinful action of another person who feels angry, hurt, or vulnerable.
These comments reveal a fundamental misunderstanding of truth about sin. Jesus and James both warned that corrupt desires in our own hearts lead to our own corrupt actions.
The Bible never indicates one would be justified to sin against another person because of their corrupt speech.
We do well to address our hearts’ fascination with sin before it turns into thoughts, speech, or actions that do not please God.
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (Proverbs 4:23 NLT)
When we properly apply Jesus’ warning about sin, we turn our attention to six practices to deal with thoughts that, absent intervention, will ultimately bloom into sinful actions.
6 Practices to Stop Sin in Its Track
1. Commit your way to the Lord.
Our first step to stop sin is a resolution to live God’s way rather than following our own desires.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT)
Our surrender to God’s authority begins at the moment of our salvation through Jesus Christ, but each morning requires a fresh commitment.
2. Yield to the Holy Spirit.
After salvation, God gives His Spirit to sanctify us. Sanctification is a lifetime process in which we become more holy from the inside out.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. (Romans 12:2 NLT)
We can’t change ourselves, but each day we can cooperate with God, who uses every circumstance of our lives to conform us into His holy image.
3. Soak your mind in God’s Word.
In the early days of computing, software engineers found a new way to reiterate eternal biblical wisdom: GIGO—garbage in, garbage out.
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8 NLT)
When we concentrate our minds on God’s thoughts, garbage ideas get squeezed out. The result? Peace-filled lives.
4. Take thoughts captive.
Despite actions to guard our hearts, sinful thoughts and feelings creep in. But God has given us the mindset of Christ so we can stop wrong thinking.
We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5 NLT)
Using the truth from God’s Spirit, we can surround the rebellious thoughts with God’s truth and train them to obey His Word.
5. Resist the devil.
Satan appeals to our innate sin nature with the physical attractions of the world. Thankfully, we can run to a safe place when temptation lures us.
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. (James 4:7-8 NLT)
Huddled under the refuge and forgiveness of Jesus, our craving for worldly pleasure diminishes and we overcome sin.
6. Listen to godly counsel.
The Apostle Paul compares our struggle with sin to a battle. In this war against sin, God gives us human helpers.
So don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers. (Proverbs 24:6 NLT)
When we humble ourselves to seek godly counsel, we receive useful strategies to combat sin.
With new hearts responsive to God, we can implement practices to stop sin in its tracks. #annieyorty #sinsprogression #victoryinjesus Share on XSin’s Progression
The Bible tells us sin has a predictable progression of steps through the heart and mind until it blooms into actions. Though I offer a series of biblical practices to stop sin in its tracks, beware seeing them as a formula to produce moral behavior.
Without a complete heart makeover, these practices prove useless.
The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? (Jeremiah 17:9 NLT)
When we receive Jesus as our Savior, God performs a transplant to give us the ability to thwart sin.
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. (Ezekiel 36:26 NLT)
With new hearts responsive to God, we can implement steps to stop sin in its tracks and claim victory in Jesus.
Join the conversation:
Have you received Jesus as your Savior? Check out Steps to Peace with God.
What practices to overcome sin would you add to this list?
We welcome your comments.
Copyright ©2025 Annie Yorty
Imitate Me
2 Comments
Katherine M Pasour
A wonderful message, Annie, and so much needed in our current times. Your 6 Practices to Stop Sin in its Tracks are right on target. I’m praying for us–our country and the world. We need our Father’s intervention.
Annie Yorty
I join you in prayer, Katherine. God bless you!