Proverbs 26:11, New International Version

"As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly."

When you take the trash out, you put it in the bin and walk away from it, right? You don't go back to get another look at it or take it back into your house, smelling up your kitchen. But that's exactly what we do when we clean out our spiritual "house" from garbage in our lives and then before long we return to the same patterns that we got rid of. Proverbs 26:11 talks about a dog returning to his vomit, and that's exactly what we are doing when we let garbage back into our lives.

Swept-clean sinful behavior, ungodly thoughts, and jump-off-the-cliff emotions are itching to creep back in at all times. It is up to me (and to you) to keep our temples clean. We have to be constantly doing this.

Perhaps you have had a Holy Spirit moment at some point in your life—a moment that caused you to make a major lifestyle change.

But for the moment to maintain momentum, we need to be constantly aware of our tendency to revert—to go back to the way we were. We have to commit to memory Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” We have to do this daily, just like taking out the garbage. It's not a one-time thing.

Returning to destructive habits after experiencing spiritual deliverance risks reversing your progress and can lead you back into spiritual bondage. The Bible cautions against returning to the worldly ways from which you were rescued, as it can ultimately leave you worse off than before.

So how do you protect the grace you have received and avoid backsliding? Focus on these principles:

Renew your mind: Breaking old behavioral patterns requires replacing them with new, healthy ways of thinking and acting. After we take the trash out, we put a new, clean bag in the can.

Draw firm boundaries: Do not re-enter toxic environments, relationships, or situations you had to pray to be delivered from. Know the red flags!

Rely on daily prayer: Consistent spiritual disciplines like prayer and worship act as guards to keep old habits from creeping back in.

Seek other Christians for accountability. Surround yourself with positive, uplifting company to help reinforce your moral choices rather than enticing you to return to the past.

If you sincerely fall back into past sins, there is still hope for repentance, and remorse is often a sign of faith and a desire to reconnect. God's mercies are new every morning, and you can rely on the Holy Spirit to help you start fresh. We need to see our sin for what it is—a return to our own vomit. If you are truly saved, then you have the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling in you. Ask the Spirit of God to clearly show you where you are returning to your own "vomit". Ask the Holy Spirit to give you new cravings, ask Him to nourish you with the Word of God. We have to be vigilant and proactive in keeping our temples clean!