We may not want to admit it, but our biggest enemy is often our own sinful nature.

"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." - Galatians 5:17

When we repented of our sins, we crucified the sinful nature that was destroying us.

"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." - Romans 6:6

We buried it in baptism in Jesus name, and were then resurrected to a new life in Jesus when we received the gift of His Holy Ghost.

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." - Romans 6:3-4

Peter preached this on the Day of Pentecost, when the church first began.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

Because we are still with a human nature, we need to be alert to keep that old nature from trying to resurrect itself, to once again, rule our life.

"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man [your old sinful nature and your former way of life], which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind [your thoughts and attitudes]; and that ye put on the new man [the new self], which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." - Ephesians 4:22-24

This is what we need to watch out for:

"But now ye also put off [get rid of] all these; anger, wrath [rage], malice [desire to injure], blasphemy [speech injurious to another’s good name], filthy communication [dirty language] out of your mouth. Lie not one to another [Don’t lie to each other], seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds [your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds]; and have put on the new man [your new self], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: [as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.]" - Colossians 3:8-10

One thing to watch for is bitterness. We can be living a victorious life, when something reminds us of a past bad experience…

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour [outcry, harsh words], and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice [all types of evil behavior]: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake [God through Christ] hath forgiven you." - Ephesians 4:31-32 KJV

We keep the victory when we immediately turn this thought over to Jesus, asking Him to forgive others or ourselves in the situation, and praying for those that were involved, asking for God's mercy on them.

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" - 2 Corinthians 10:5

"Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." - Colossians 3:13

Stephen completely forgave those that murdered him by asking God to erase his murder from their account.

"And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep." - Acts 7:60

The people killed Stephen by stoning after His testimony of Jesus. “Asleep” means he died living for Jesus and is “asleep” in the grave until the first resurrection.

The next step is for us to ask the Lord to take it from our minds and forget about it.

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13-14

If we don’t do this, the alternative is to go down that side road, off the path of Jesus, and to focus on how we were hurt or offended and how wrong that person was, putting down a deep root of bitterness that defiles many.

"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God [fails to receive the grace of God]; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you [watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you], and thereby many be defiled [contaminated with sin];" - Hebrews 12:15

We must watch and pray and stay on the path of victory!

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." - Galatians 5:16 KJV

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" - Ephesians 6:18 KJV

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4:13 KJV