70 Prompts for Fighting Sin

Jude, in his epistle, issues a challenge, a call. He appeals
to readers to contend for the faith (Jude 3) or, to stay true to the message of
Christ as originally proclaimed by the Lord’s apostles. As believers today, one
application of his appeal throughout the book of Jude is to be compelled by
God’s holiness and grace to live in greater and greater congruency with what is
right.

The prayers below contain 70 principles derived from Jude’s letter about how and why believers fight sin and falsehood—contending for God’s goodness and truth to rule in the inner person.

Father, I want to avoid sin . . .

Because I was reborn to serve not myself, but
You (Jude 1).Because You, a holy God, love me (Jude 1).Because the grace of being kept for Christ is my
joy; sin is not (Jude 1).Through Your kind mercy that upholds me (Jude
2).Through my status of peace with You in Christ,
which rightly births actions that are at peace with You too (Jude 2). By Your love that makes me want Your fellowship instead
of my sins (Jude 2).By the power of the unchangeable truth of the
faith that supports my spiritual life (Jude 3).And not grow complacent; alert me to my sins, I
pray (Jude 4).Because those who refuse, in unbelief, to turn
from their sins are designated to destruction (Jude 4).Because
being ungodly is a contradiction of who I was made by You, my God, to be
(Jude 4).In
order to progress spiritually by not perverting Your grace into something that
gives leniency to sin and digression (Jude 4).Because
disobedience to You offensively moves to negate who Jesus is, my Master and
Lord (Jude 4).Through
knowing I am accountable to the revealed truths of Scripture (Jude 4-5).Through
dwelling on the mightiest act of salvation man could know—Jesus’ (Jude 5).Because
the prerogative to tell me what to do and how to do it is Yours (Jude 6).Because
future judgment means You never condone a casual attitude about sin (Jude 6).Through
humble knowledge that, apart from Christ, sinners deserve eternal fire,
conscience and unending suffering (Jude 7).By
setting all of my dreams, my desires, before Your Word for approval or
disapproval (Jude 8).By
using my faculties and abilities according to Your holy will (Jude 8). In
reverence for You (Jude 9).Through
logic and reasoning that help me discern and choose what is right (Jude 10).Because
I do not want to be a danger in leading others away from You (Jude 11).In
love for my brothers and sisters in Christ, not wanting to wrong and hurt them
(Jude 12).Because
I never want to be numb to wickedness, sinning without any holy fear of You
(Jude 12).In
order to be able to bless others—I was not made to feed or help only myself
(Jude 12).Because
sin leads to more sin—like that of boasting of false insight in order to rationalize
wrong actions (Jude 12).Because
otherwise, I would be a fruit tree barren of fruit (Jude 12).Through
knowing the destruction sin causes to the soul—its path is one that ultimately
leads to lifeless up-rootedness (Jude 12). Because
wild living based on my own rules rejects the good and purposeful direction of
my Creator (Jude 13).Because
the shame of sin brings an upheaval of life and circumstance, for me and those I
know (Jude 13).Because
my spiritual trajectory is intended to be fixed on You; a wandering spirit
negates how you made me to be (Jude 13). Because
sin is suited to a gloomy, utter darkness—not to a new creation in Christ (Jude
13).Through
heeding the warning of condemnation for the faithlessly unrepentant (Jude 14).By
thinking ahead to seeing You—how I will hate every second of sin, every denial
of You as Lord and Master on that final day (Jude 14)!Through
dwelling on the magnitude of the human decision to be faithless; Your judgments
will not be altered in the age to come (Jude 15).Because
You deserve all honor, not deeds and words of ungodliness (Jude 15). Because
sin involves a grumbling spirit that sets self on high (Jude 16)Because
sin involves discontentment, a form of disdain for what You have given and vain
covetousness for what You have not (Jude 16).Because
unrepentant sin is not an isolated act but the beginning or continuance of a pattern
(Jude 16).Because
unrepentant sin leads to me becoming loudest in my own mind—keeping me from
hearing You and others (Jude 16). Because
sin makes me see others merely as people to use for my objectives (Jude 16).Through
wisely recalling biblical predictions that some who profess to believe will later
reject You—my faith need not be displaced and my ears need not attune to hollow
reasoning (Jude 17).Through
remembering that I live in the last times; this life will soon pass (Jude 18).By
a listening spirit that inclines itself toward holiness—and does not scoff at
what I do not yet understand about God (Jude 18). Because
unrepentant sin keeps my emotions from being devoted first to You (Jude 18). Because
I never want to initiate any divisions in Christ’s beloved church through uttering
false and ungodly proclamations—since division between true believers and unrepentant
false teachers is vital (Jude 19).Because
sin is worldliness, and worldliness will pass away with the world (Jude 19).Because
sin involves seeking selfish power, dismissive of the power of the Holy Spirit
(Jude 19).Through
glad expectation that I can be built up in my faith (Jude 20).Through
tuning my heart to the most holy nature of the faith (Jude 20).Through
prayer in the Holy Spirit—truth-filled and Christ-exalting (Jude 20).In
thankfulness that You have loved me before I ever knew to love You (Jude 20).Through
highly anticipating the day when mercy will be finalized in glory (Jude 21).Because
eternal life awaits, which blossoms from the seed of this life (Jude 21).By
trusting that doubts do not disqualify me from returning to the faith (Jude
22).Through
a cautious attitude—I am more susceptible to sin and its power than I think (Jude
23).Because
Christ in me is a gift I want to cherish (Jude 24).Through
confidence in Christ and all of His grace—the One who alone is able to keep me
from falling to judgment (Jude 24).Because
Christ shed His own precious blood to make me blameless (Jude 24). Through
the expectation of one day being in Your presence—glorious (Jude 24).Through
hope of an ultimate union of You together with Your people, which will yield a
joy like no other (Jude 24).Because
You are God of all people, all places, and all times—the only One worthy of my unqualified
obedience (Jude 25). Because
Jesus Christ has given Himself, that those who believe can call Him ours (Jude
25). In
order to worship You above all else—for You are glorious, having radiant worth
in all of who You are (Jude 25);You
are majestic, with a beauty and transcendence that fills creatures will holy awe
(Jude 25);To
You belongs dominion, ultimate victory in this world (Jude 25);And
to You belongs authority to do and command according to Your matchless,
sovereign will (Jude 25). Because
You are God above and before me—existing prior time’s start (Jude 25).Because
You reign at this moment, calling for my present loving obedience (Jude 25).Because
You are King forever, and You see fit to include in Your glory all who choose You
now (Jude 25).

Thank You, Father, for the Scriptures that instruct me, Your Holy Spirit who guides me, Your promises that preserve me, and Christ—the prize of all prizes before me. Amen.

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