WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
AUGUST 28, 2026
TOPIC: OVERCOMING BESETTING SINS
BY T. O. BANSO
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1, King James Version).
What is Sin? The Greek word for sin is hamartia, meaning to miss the mark. This could be by omission or commission, or through our words or deeds. 1 John 5:17a gives a simple definition of sin: “All unrighteousness is sin” (New King James Version).
As the apostle John says in 1 John 3:7-8, “He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (New King James Version).
The purpose of Jesus’ coming to the earth was to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). He went to the cross to die for the remission or forgiveness of our sin. Therefore, whoever is born of God does not continue to sin because the very nature of God, the seed of God, dwells in him (1 John 3:9).
Satan introduced human beings to sin in the Garden of Eden, and since then, humanity has kept on sinning. Satan’s intention was, and remains, to separate man eternally from God. Sin separates humanity from God; it causes God to hide His face from the sinner (Isaiah 59:1-2). However, God initiated reconciliation through Christ, showing mercy to the sinner while final judgment awaits the unrepentant.
The writer of the book of Hebrews says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1, King James Version).
This scripture talks about two things to be laid aside or got rid of: every weight and the sin that so easily besets us. Weight speaks of an encumbrance, an impediment, or a hindrance. It does not have to be something evil or sinful. It may be something generally good but not good or right for you as a person, because it won’t help you or contribute to God’s purpose for your life. You must shed “excess weight.”
Paul, speaking along this line, said, “You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is good for you. And even though ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ I must not become a slave to anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12, New Living Translation).
Hebrews 12:1 also talks about “the sin which doth so easily beset us” (King James Version) or “the sin which so easily ensnares us” (New King James Version). The Greek word for besetting, as used in Hebrews 12:1, is euperistatos, which means “skilfully surrounding i. e. besetting, namely, to prevent or retard running” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon).
Besetting sin means “the easily entangling sin” (The Emphasized New Testament: A New Translation). The New Testament by Henry Alford renders it as the sin “which doth naturally enwrap us.” It also means “the sin into which we come so readily” (Bible in Basic English).
The Amplified Bible renders it as “the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us.” Weymouth New Testament describes it as “the sin that so readily entangles our feet.” The New Century Version calls it “the sin that easily holds us back.” A person can have more than one besetting sin.
How to Overcome Besetting Sins
1. Identify each sin, repent of it, confess it, and forsake it. The first thing anyone who is not born again must do is admit that he is a sinner and cannot save himself. He must accept Jesus as his Lord and Saviour.
A sin is a sin, not a mere weakness. Whether you are born again or not, don’t justify your sin or explain it away. Don’t say everybody is doing it or it’s impossible to do without it. That’s a lie of the devil that will keep you in bondage forever.
God demands that you repent of your sins, confess, and forsake them. Acts 17:30 says, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent” (New King James Version). If you are going to overcome your besetting sins, you cannot afford to keep them from God.
Proverbs 28:13 says, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (New King James Version). Instead of concealing your sin, open up to God. He’ll do an excellent job of covering your sins.
Psalm 32:1-2 says, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit” (New King James Version). Did you see that phrase, whose sin is covered? Don’t hide your secret with the devil; hide it with God, as you confess to Him.
2. Study and meditate on the Word of God that speaks against sin. Fill your heart with the Word of God. Displace and replace the dirty things in your heart with the Word of God, and this will influence your actions. Every sin proceeds from the heart (Matthew 15:19).
From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). You can’t want to have victory over sexual immorality, yet you surround yourself with pornographic materials—obscene magazines and films. You must burn this ‘contraband’ if you’re serious about overcoming your besetting sin of sexual immorality.
3. Obey the Word of God and abstain from every form of evil. The Bible says you should flee from sin. Flee means flee! Don’t play with sin; don’t toy with it. “Flee sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18, New King James Version).
With the help of the Holy Spirit, flee from your lusts, your idols, your pet sins (1 Corinthians 10:14; 2 Timothy 2:22). It has been rightly said that sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.
Joseph had to flee from Mrs. Potiphar, who wanted to seduce him to commit sexual immorality with her (Genesis 39:11-12). Joseph didn’t stand before her, confessing the Word of God! You must flee from sin. Abstain from every form of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
Know when to flee. Flee! Run from locations or environments the devil normally uses to make you commit these sins. Do not go to places that make you vulnerable. Obey the Word of God.
4. Consistently confess relevant scriptures against the sin before there is a temptation to commit it. Your confession of the Word of God will enable the Holy Spirit to work through the Word, transforming your heart so that you live a holy life. It is the Holy Spirit who does the work, not your repetition of the Word; it is not a magical incantation. “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8, New International Version). Keeping the Book of the law always on your lips means speaking aloud the Word of God so that it shapes your thoughts and dictates your actions.
5. Resist the devil steadfastly with faith. Resist any temptation to commit this sin; resist it with the Word of God. The Bible says you should submit to God and resist the devil, and he’ll flee from you (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9). Jesus resisted Satan with the Word of God when he came to tempt Him (Matthew 4:1-11).
Temptation is not a sin until you yield to it. Don’t yield to temptation and claim you’re helpless. No. Help is available to you in God.
6. Have a partner to whom you are accountable. This can be a mature Christian or a trusted Christian friend in whom you can confide and who can help you maintain your victory over this sin, monitor your progress, and with whom you can discuss challenges and victories (Galatians 6:1-2; Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). James 5:16 says to confess our sins to each other and pray for each other so that we may be healed.
Stop pretending that you are all right when you’re decaying inside. Seek godly help. Confess to a mature Christian who can pray with you, advise you, guide you, encourage you, etc. I’m not talking about someone who’ll be gossiping about you and raising your case as a prayer point everywhere in the guise of helping you. Expose the devil, and you will be on your way to victory.
7. Engage in personal prayer and fasting. “Jesus replied, ‘This kind can be cast out only by prayer’” (Mark 9:29, New Living Translation). Some translations read by “prayer and fasting.” Are you serious enough about being free to pray and fast about it? Prayer with fasting helps to destroy the stronghold of that sin in your life.
8. Seek prayer. In Romans 7:18-25, Paul refers to his struggle with sin. He couldn’t do the right thing he wanted to do; he found himself doing the wrong thing he didn’t want to do. However, he found his deliverance in Christ Jesus.
Meet your pastor and confess your struggles regarding this sin that has closely clung to you. The more you try, the more you see yourself falling into it. It is no longer just a slip; it has become a deeply rooted stronghold in your flesh. Don’t hide it. Seek help and prayer from a minister of God to find accountability and healing.
9. Depend on the grace of God and never give up. Victory over sin is impossible through willpower. The grace of God is required. Look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2). Don’t give up your battle over this sin, even if it seems you are not making progress. The physical evidence of victory over sin may sometimes not be seen immediately, but don’t allow the devil to frustrate you into concluding that you cannot do without the sin.
Trust in the accomplished work of Jesus on the cross—the power of the blood of Jesus over sin. Act on all the points highlighted in this message, even if it appears that things are not getting better. It’s a lie of the devil. It’s a strategy of the devil to frustrate you.
As you have read in Hebrews 12:1, every weight and every besetting sin must be cast away, stripped off, flung aside, laid aside so that you can run the race God has set before you.
As a Christian, you are running a race. No athlete carries luggage with him while standing on the mark for a race; the luggage will hinder him. He can’t make it. You can’t make this race carrying extra weight and besetting sins. Get rid of them from your life today.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you must repent of your sins and confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour now. Please take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life—your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your heart. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There, you will be taught how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me, and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I invite Jesus into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, I receive deliverance from the sin that easily besets or entangles me. I have victory over every sin in my life. Sin shall not have dominion over me. Holy Spirit, I receive your help to overcome sin every day and live a holy life.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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