More thoughts about Confession, sin, etc.

So, I've been thinking a lot about human nature, and our inclination to sin, mainly because lately it seems like I am reminded of my own sinfulness on a daily basis.  I constantly am falling, and it isn't until after that I am like "why did I do that?"  It seems like once one sin is committed there is a "cascade effect" that occurs, and before you know it, you feel like you've "fallen out of grace" so to speak.

I'd like to say I have all the answers to how to combat this, but to be honest, I think I'm still figuring it out.  It's like I know what I need to be doing to live a better life of grace, but actually making myself do it is very hard.  It's easy to be complacent, to just let whatever happen: It's hard to work at allowing God's grace into your life, and allowing him to guide you towards the life He wants you to live.

That last statement may seem backwards to some, but the fact of the matter is that Grace is something that has to be worked at.  God's grace is all that we really need in this life, but with all the distractions that are present in this world, it is often very hard to focus on God alone.  There are things on TV, the internet, in books, magazines, and even other people that can lead us away from God.

So how do we remedy this?  I'm starting to realize that sometimes it requires us to remove what is causing us to sin from our lives, thus making a "change for the better."  Sometimes, it means that you need to "lean on God" more than you are already.

Above all, the number one way to keep yourself from sinning is to immediately turn to prayer when you feel a temptation coming on.  Going to confession also helps, because Confession is the Sacrament that can restore us to God's Grace, no matter what we have done.  As long as we approach the sacrament with a sincere heart, and we are truly sorry for what we have done, and we have a firm desire to amend our life, we will be forgiven.

My prayer is that I can learn to be more willing to accept God's mercy and Grace, and stop thinking that I can do everything myself.  Until I can do that, I fear that I am doomed to keep making the same mistakes over and over again.  God, help me to move from complacency to conviction, so that I may grow closer to you.  Amen.