Excerpt from Pocket Guide to Overcoming the Seven Deadly Sins by Fr. Josh Johnson. Fr. Josh based his series, SET FREE; Daily Lenten Reflections, on the book, which helps readers better understand the ways sin affects them in their daily lives, gives practical guidance and accompaniment, and reminds them of the power of surrendering to God in these areas and enlisting his help on the journey.
THE “THREE RS”: A FRAMEWORK FOR OVERCOMING SIN
Some practical remedies to the vices that have plagued humanity since the Fall are rooted in the “Three Rs”: Resolve, Renounce, and Remember.
Resolve
Resolve to read Sacred Scripture. Through his sacred Word, God arms and even fights for us. In Exodus 14:14, Moses writes, “The Lord will fight for you.” In the Gospel, when Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert, he recited passages from the Old Testament out loud as weapons until the devil fled away. Because we are disciples of Jesus, we are invited to imitate him and allow God to fight for us as we arm ourselves by spending time with his words in the Bible. Knowing where to start is not always easy, so at the end of each chapter of this book, you will be invited to pray for a week with a different daily passage from the Bible that relates to the chapter’s deadly sin. You are encouraged to return to Scripture as often as you struggle with a given vice.
Renounce
Renounce the lie that we cannot overcome the vices that are operative in our lives. After we have done so, proclaim the truth that “with God, nothing is impossible” (Luke 1:37). Pray every day so that Jesus may help you renounce all the lies you may be tempted to believe about yourself because of your struggle with one or more of the seven deadly sins. Daily prayer will help you to believe in the truth revealed in Scripture that all things are possible with God. Read the Bible every day, practicing lectio divina, and renounce the lies from the enemy as ways to assist you in overcoming the sins that are dominant in your life.
Remember
Remember that God wants to be in a relationship with you, regardless of whether you are still struggling with certain vices. The Lord invites us to come to him in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, in seasons of consolation and in periods of desolation, when you are in a state of grace or in a state of sin. God thirsts for each of us to become saints. Remember to focus always on God’s love for you more than on your sins. A meditation to help you remember God’s love will be provided in this book for each day of the week.
As suggested above, at the end of each chapter, you will be invited to a seven-day practice that incorporates the “Three Rs.” You will be prompted to use this approach in a specific way each day to address the particular vice that has been presented. You will be asked to read the suggested Scripture passage for the day, renounce through prayer the lie that you cannot overcome your sins, and remember to meditate on the merciful love of God.
SEVEN DAILY PRACTICES THAT OPPOSE THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS
The seven-day strategy will work as follows. At the end of every chapter of the Pocket Guide to Overcoming the Seven Deadly Sins by Fr. Josh Johnson you will find:
- Seven Scripture verses pertaining to the deadly sin from that chapter. Resolve to read one verse prayerfully each day for seven days using the steps of lectio divina outlined earlier. My hope for you is that prioritizing consistent and intentional time with Sacred Scripture will:
- deepen your relationship with Jesus,
- reveal the sin or sins you struggle with most, and
- give the Holy Spirit who inspires the Scripture an opportunity to help you grow in overcoming the sin or sins.
- Following each verse is commentary connecting it to the chapter’s content as well as questions to consider and food for thought.
- A renunciation prayer asking God to help you resist the lies of the enemy. By repeating this same prayer (albeit through the intercession of a different saint for each chapter) every day for seven days, you will be able to memorize it. Then, in a moment of temptation, you will have a prayer to help you.
- A daily meditation focused on God’s love for you.
