Dear Church Family
To my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,
I write to you with a heart full of love and concern, as I sense that many of us may be feeling stuck in spiritual cycles that leave us frustrated and discouraged. These cycles, or “loops,” as I will call them, are those patterns of behavior, sin, or thinking that keep us from experiencing the full freedom that Jesus died to give us.
The Struggle We All Know
As the Apostle Paul so honestly confessed in Romans 7:15, "For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do."
This verse speaks to the very heart of the struggle we face. We desire to live godly lives, to do what is right, to love others well, and to honor the Lord in all we do. Yet, many times, we find ourselves doing the exact opposite—falling into the same habits, the same sins, and the same failures over and over again.
Perhaps you feel like you're caught in a loop today—a cycle of sin you can’t seem to break, a pattern of fear or doubt that keeps holding you back, or maybe even a loop of guilt and shame that you can’t escape.
The Power of Sin and the Grace of God
First, let us recognize that the loop we find ourselves in is not unusual—it is the reality of living in a fallen world and having a sinful nature. However, this is not the end of our story, nor is it where God intends for us to stay. While sin seeks to entrap us in a loop, grace offers a way out.
"O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" It is Jesus who delivers us from the loop of sin and death. We cannot break these cycles by our own strength or willpower, but through the grace of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, we are set free.
So, how do we, as a church, break free from these loops that keep us trapped?
Surrender to Christ: The first step is to acknowledge our need for Jesus. We cannot overcome the power of sin on our own. We must fully surrender our lives to Him, trusting in His strength, not ours. As we humble ourselves before Him, He gives us the power to overcome.
Renew Your Mind: Romans 12:2 calls us to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” We must fill our hearts and minds with God’s Word, allowing His truth to change the way we think and act. The more we dwell on His promises, the more we will be equipped to resist the patterns of this world.
Walk in the Spirit: Galatians 5:16 reminds us to “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to live free from the loops of sin and guilt. As we yield to the Spirit, He guides us and gives us victory over the flesh.
Accountability and Prayer: We need one another. As a church, let us support each other in this journey. Confess your struggles to a trusted brother or sister, and pray for one another. James 5:16 tells us that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Together, we can lift each other up and help break the chains that bind us.
A Call to Freedom
Dear church, I urge you not to settle for less than the freedom Christ offers. Do not remain trapped in the loops that hold you back from the abundant life God has promised. Jesus came to set the captives free, and He has broken the power of sin and death. The loop is not stronger than the cross!
Let us, therefore, fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and run the race set before us with endurance, knowing that He has already secured our victory. May we no longer be bound by the cycles of sin, guilt, and fear, but walk boldly in the newness of life He has given us.
In His grace and power,
Bill Doane
