At its core, sin is the choice to love ourselves before God. It is the disordered preference of our will over His, our desires over His commandments, and our comfort over His call to holiness. Every sin, no matter how small, flows from this root—a turning inward rather than upward.
But the beauty of our faith is that we are not trapped in sin. Through prayer, fasting, and trust in God, we can reorient our hearts, turning away from self-love and toward divine love.
The Root of Sin: Self-Love Before God
From the very beginning, sin has been the result of choosing self over God. Adam and Eve disobeyed because they wanted to “be like God” (Gen 3:5). The Tower of Babel was built in an attempt to make a name for themselves (Gen 11:4). Even the rich young man, who kept all the commandments, walked away from Jesus because he loved his possessions more than the call to follow Christ (Matt 19:21-22).
St. Augustine described sin as “love of self to the point of contempt for God.” It is not just doing bad things; it is choosing ourselves over Him—whether through pride, greed, lust, or even complacency in our faith. We are tickling the senses rather than worshipping the One who created us.
Yet, despite our failures, God calls us back. He is always ready to forgive, restore, and transform us if we are willing to put Him first.
The Path to Renewal: Prayer, Fasting, and Trust
If sin is self-love before God, then the antidote is placing God before the self. The Church gives us three powerful tools to help us do this:
1. Prayer: Seeking God First
Prayer is the act of turning our hearts back to God. When we neglect prayer, we begin to rely on our own strength, making ourselves the center of our lives. But when we pray, we acknowledge that God is greater than us, that we need Him, and that our purpose is found in Him alone.
Jesus Himself gives us the model of prayer in the Our Father:
“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.” (Matt 6:9-10)
Regarding the frequency of prayer, St. Paul tells us that we are to “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thess 5:17)
Prayer is not about asking for what we want but about aligning our will with His. It is an act of humility—putting God first in our hearts and minds.
2. Fasting: Denying Self for Love of God
Fasting is one of the most powerful ways to reorder our loves. It forces us to confront our dependence on comfort, pleasure, and self-will.
When we fast, we say:
“Lord, I deny myself because I love You more than my desires. I hunger for You more than for food. I thirst for Your righteousness more than for comfort.”
The Desert Fathers understood this well. St. John Cassian wrote:
“Fasting is the guardian of the soul. It gives wings to our prayers.”
Fasting weakens our attachment to self, making room for God’s strength in our weakness (2 Cor 12:9).
3. Trust: Letting God Provide
Sin often stems from a lack of trust in God—believing that we must take control because He will not provide. This is the great lie that led Adam and Eve to grasp for the fruit rather than trust in God’s goodness.
But Jesus calls us to radical trust:
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” (Matt 6:33)
When we let go of self-reliance and place our trust in God, we no longer need to grasp for security, power, or control. Instead, we can rest in His providence, knowing that He is enough.
A Call to Repentance and Renewal
If we truly desire to overcome sin, we must ask ourselves:
• Do I put God before myself in all things?
• Do I pray without ceasing, seeking His will rather than my own?
• Do I fast, disciplining my desires so that God can increase in me?
• Do I trust Him completely, or do I rely on myself?
Sin does not have to define us. God’s mercy is greater than our failures. Through prayer, fasting, and trust, we can reorder our lives, placing God where He belongs—at the center of everything.
Lent is approaching. Let us begin today by choosing God over self, dying to sin, and living in the freedom of His love.
“Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matt 16:25)
In Christ and Prayer,
WP
The Community of Warrior Penitents 