1. Know your heart. We have all sinned and have been impacted by sin (Romans 3:23). How sin impacts us, however, varies from person to person. Some deal with tempers. Others struggle with lust. Or perhaps greed or worry is your particular difficulty. The key is to identify the area(s) of weakness. So what is your personality? What tempts you most? What do you tend to overindulge in—whether an activity, food, or type of media? What do you fear? Which lies do you tend to believe? The answers can point to an area of weakness.
2. Observe your actions. Actions often speak
louder than words. So pay attention to how you react to what is going on around
you. What distracts you from what you should be doing? What disturbs your
sleep? What angers or depresses? These might point to potential problems.
3. Consider your relationships. We live in a
broken world. This means we don’t
live alone. It also means the people around us are broken too. And people
affect people. What you do can affect me. What I do can affect you. Now I’m not
responsible for your actions. But I am responsible for mine. So am I choosing
relationships that will strengthen me rather than prey on my weaknesses? More
than that, am I acting in a way that strengthens others rather than preying on their weaknesses—what Scripture calls
placing a stumbling block in front of my brother? Is there a way I need to
limit myself for the sake of those around me—whether a child, a spouse, or a
friend?
4. Finally, check your environment. Personal
limitations deal with blind spots. Blind spots frequently develop from
desensitization. Desensitization results from constant exposure. So what errors
are you consistently exposed to due to the area you live in, the occupation you
work at, or the people you engage with? You may need extra safety measures in
these areas.
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