Have you ever had a sinful habit that went underground?  Almost when you had completely forgotten about it, it surfaced.  How did that happen?  I thought I dealt with that years ago?

In Genesis 20, Abraham has a similar experience.  A sin of his past which I am sure he tried to forget resurfaces.  I love that God’s Word tells the truth about our heroes of  the faith not to encourage us in our sin but to warn us!  It is far too easy for sin to go underground in our lives.

So how do we prevent it from happening?  Here are three helpful questions to ask when an old habit resurfaces.

What is my FOCUS? v 11 “I thought”.. Abraham is doing his own thinking rather than looking to God. Abraham, the father of our faith, reveals how little faith he has in this moment in the power of God to care for him and his family.  Is my focus on my strength or intuition or the power of God?

Who will this AFFECT? When we sin, we suffer and bring shame. Abimelech asks a sobering question of Abraham.  “What have you done to us?” Abraham risks his beautiful wife’s virtue by offering her to the king.  Sin always has a ripple effect.

Where is GOD? It is in the midst of habitual sin that we refuse to not look toward God… Abraham dishonors God… well-known servant of God (a prophet) does not make a very good showing of himself.  His testimony about the greatness of God is ruined.. Abraham loses opportunity to witness to Abmelech… When old habits/sin surfaces we lose our influence for the Kingdom.

What about you?  What have your learned about handling old habits in your spiritual life?