In one of his meetings, D.L. Moody was explaining to his audience the truth that we cannot bring about spiritual changes in our lives by our own strength. He demonstrated the principal like this: "Tell me," he said to his audience, "how can I get the air out of the tumbler I have in my hand?" One man said, "Suck it out with a pump." But Moody replied, "That would create a vacuum and shatter it."
Finally after many suggestions, he picked up a pitcher and quietly filled the glass with water. "There," he said, "all the air is now removed." He then explained that victory for the child of God does not come solely by working hard to eliminate sinful habits, but rather by allowing Christ to take full possession."
A lot of people work hard to remove bad habits from their lives. Just look at all the self-help books out there. One of the most popular books today is "The Secret". Millions of people are reading it to change their lives. But sin is like cutting down one of those old cottonwood trees that we use to have in the front yard. All the trees were cut down -- but for years the roots would send out suckers and little trees would pop up in the most unusual and inconvenient places. It wasn't until all the roots were removed that they stopped coming up.
If we try to remove the results without doing anything about the cause, we only frustrate ourselves. The need is to remove the root and replace it with the Holy Spirit.