Sin rarely gains mastery all at once. It begins when desire is entertained and obeyed. Repeated obedience then forms a pattern, and the pattern gradually begins to rule.

In this devotion, we trace how temptation moves from desire to sin, how repeated choices train the heart, and how sin eventually distorts our judgement until we defend what we once knew was wrong.

But the pattern can be interrupted. Freedom begins when we stop presenting ourselves to sin and begin presenting ourselves to God. The road out of bondage is walked one deliberate act of obedience to Christ at a time.