When the Good Shepherd restores us, He does a complete work. He puts within us new desires, His will and His laws are now written on our hearts. Nobody has to walk beside us with a big stick to keep us from doing wrong. The desires have changed. I know of people hooked on drugs or alcohol that were delivered instantly by this work of God. God can take away the very desire for wrong things, but we must decide that we are completely finished with it. That usually is our decision. Then ask the Lord to take the hunger away for it. Don’t stop there though. You need to ask Him to give you a hunger for something new. He will!
Feed the new life He gives you. Will you ever be tempted again? Usually, yes, since the devil does not give up easily. If you look for it, the strength will be available to say ‘no’ to the wrong and ‘yes’ to the right. That is our responsibility.
“…he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Psalms 23:3. After restoration, He, the Good Shepherd, will continue to lead you forward. The secret to not going back into the old life and habits is to keep moving forward with the Good Shepherd. Because you are completely finished with your own way, you have become leadable. That is the character of a real sheep. The Good Shepherd will now lead you further into right living, right thinking, right actions and right habits.
Let There Be Life 