Growing up, I was always told I couldn’t do something. And I’ll be honest, I was, and I probably still am, to some extent, very rebellious. I can’t vouch for this myself, but my parents and brother tell me that my first word was “no.” Fitting, huh?

I didn't like the idea of not being able to do something. I hated being told “no.” Maybe that’s why it was my first word. I hated being told no, so I thought I would just return the favor. So over time, I honestly began to not accept being told I couldn’t do something.

Then I learned about the Bible. Oh, boy.

A book filled with rules, laws and a bunch of do's and don’ts. I'm sure you can imagine how this translated into my relationship, or lack thereof, with the Lord growing up. There are so many things I can remember wanting to do, and still to this day, that I often really want to do, but I knew were wrong.

If we were really honest with ourselves, we would admit there are often times when obedience is easy. But the majority of the time, let’s just be real: It’s very, very difficult.

I struggled with this idea for so long in my life. It was a constant battle and honestly, it still is. I'm sure many, if not all of you, have been there, or are currently in this state. Knowing something is wrong in your head, but not feeling the conviction of it in your heart.

Even when I came to Christ for the first time as I entered high school, I still wrestled with this. Then everything changed when I began to stop running away from sin and Satan, and I started running toward the love, goodness and grace found at the feet of Jesus.

I was done trying to be good enough, and focused on allowing God to be enough. I ran toward His mighty fortress. I didn’t look back and give sin any acknowledgement, and honestly, over time, I began to see that the hold sin had on me was becoming less and less.

See, as a highly competitive, “always looking for a fight" kind of a guy, I wanted to take on my sin and be the hero for myself at an early age. I didn’t understand that if I tried to turn around and face the sin that had been chasing me, I was going to lose. I wasn't going to win, no matter how hard I tried.

But then it hit me. I don’t have to win, because Jesus already has. The greatest news that I still have to remind myself of is that when Jesus said, “It is finished,” He meant the war was won! He rose and defeated death!

Therefore, when we begin to solely keep our eyes fixed upon God and not turn around and “run away” from Satan, but rather run toward Jesus, we will experience a freedom that nothing in this world can top. Evil preys on the weak because it's scared of the strong.

If you feel like there's something that you just can’t overcome, don’t fight it on your own. Don’t view the situation as something you have to run away from, but look at it as running toward a higher power. God isn't trying to rob you of satisfaction when He tells you not to do something. He's trying to show you a higher satisfaction in life that nothing could ever destroy.

Sin will always be a battle, but when we have the strength of Jesus always on our minds, “when Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within, upward I look and see Him there who made an end to all my sin." - "Before The Throne Of God Above"

Build yourself up with the strength of Christ, and the lies of Satan will begin to lose their hold on you.