As a Christian it is important to train to be godly, 1 Tim. 4:7. To make progress in the pursuit of holiness a regular commitment is essential. You must commit yourself to God. Paul calls for commitment in Rom. 12:1. Commitment to God is not necessarily a holy life style or a set of values. It is putting on Christlike virtues.
"When we sin we are more vexed at the lowering of our self-esteem than we are grieved at God's dishonor. We are surprised and irritated at our own lack of self-control in subjecting ourselves to unworthy habits...The first cause of this is self-love, which is unable to stand the disappointment of not seeing ourselves in time of trial come out beautiful, errect, and admirable."
Frederick W. Faber, paraphrased
We need to offer our entire being to God. Offer as in Rom. 12:1 is a decisive, once-for-all dedication or commitment. It is a decisive commitment that is continually reaffirmed. A commitment to God to pursue a way of life that is pleasing to Him. We must make it our own aim not to sin. However, we won't arrive at sinless perfection in this life.
Our intention needs to be to please God in all our actions.
"Sin has a tendency to exert an ever-increasing power on us if it is not resisted on every occasion."
Rom. 6:19, commitment to not sin willfully and commitment to clothe ourselves with the positive virtues of Christian character. Col. 3:12. The commitment to pursue holiness must embrace every area of life; the significant and insignificant.
Some steps that helps lead to this commitment is first identifying the areas we are most vulnerable to sin. There are two kinds of temptations. The sinfulness of our own heart, and environmental circumstances.
After identifying areas of vunlerability then take the time to ideantify areas of temptation to make a commitment. These could be: temptations of the eyes, what you say/think, work, school, or relationships.
God cannot compromise His holiness. God wants to conform us into the likeness of His Son. Even Jesus was tempted, Heb. 4:5.
"Paul's entreaty teaches us that men will never worship God with a sincere heart, or be roused to fear and obey Him with sufficient zeal, until they properly understand how much they are indebted to His mercy...Paul,...in order to bind us to God not by servile fear but by a voluntary and cheerful love of righteousness, attracts us by the sweetness of that grace in which our salvation consists."
-John Calvin
God wants us to pursue holiness, and provides the grace to enable us to do it. Rom. 6:11-14. Unreserved pursuit of holiness can be exhausting, but it's not oppressive when grounded in grace.
-when preaching gospel to yourself reaffirm love and gratitude to God, commitment, reliance on HS and His enablement to carry out your commitment.
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