I have a couple of quotes for you to think about, and what I did with them is transport the principle they highlight into the Christian life. So let me give you the quote as is, followed by my modification.
The first quote is by Chuck Colson: He wrote, “The best way to reduce crime is not to react after the fact with punishments and rehabilitation but to discourage it before it happens by creating an ordered and civil community life."
Here’s the Christian principle: The best way to reduce [sin in one's life] is not to react after the fact with [self-condemnation] and [renewed commitments] but to discourage it before it happens by creating [under the Spirit's power and direction] an ordered and [godly] [thought] life.
Here’s the second quote by Dr M Scott Peck: “Health (is) not so much the absence of disease as it is the presence of an optimal healing process...
most disease may best be defined as a failure of the healing process.”
Here’s the Christian principle: [Victory over sin] (is) not so much the absence of [deceitful desires] as it is the presence of an optimal healing process [constant responsiveness to the Holy Spirit]...most [sinful bondage] may best be defined as a failure of [that] healing process.
