If a bird lands on your head, that's not really your fault... but you don't have to let it build a nest.

When you are tempted, you may slip across into sin. (Eph 4:26) Temper, lust, covetousness, or disrespect may involuntarily spring forth. (1John 1:10) Think about it. When you have a thought of envy, do you analyze the situation and make a conscious decision to be envious as a first step? Probably not. More likely, you find yourself in an envy thought before you know what's going on. How about anger. Is it a rational decision? Not usually. You have this flash of anger, and you likely don't even want it. These are the wicked seeds planted in the past that are springing up and troubling you. This is slipping across into sin. It is very much like slipping on the ice. As soon as this sin springs up, it tempts us to take the next step and to escalate the sin. That is where the test is.

You may slip, but you do not need to step across into willful sin, sowing evil seed in your heart and the heart of others.

The tongue may step across by saying what should not be said. Have you had that happen? When your tongue does this, it is able to lead your whole body into sin. (James 3:2,5-9) When your natural mind tries to lead you into sin, you must not listen to it but turn instead to God. Look into the royal law of liberty and remember who you are. Discern that you are a member of the Body of Christ. In reality, you have no identity outside of that Body. Identify with the Christ in you, not your flesh. (Rom 7:16-20) You do not need to step across in willful disobedience to God. (Heb. 10:26-27)

If we see ourselves and others after the flesh, then we will be led by the flesh into sin. (2Cor 5:16)

Should we step across into willful sin, we have suffered loss and must confess our sin before Jesus, and He forgives our sin. (1 John 1:9) When we feel bitterness well up, it is from evil seed that was previously planted. (Heb 12:15) Look into the royal law and remember that this is the flesh trying to direct you. (James 2:8) You owe the flesh nothing. (Rom 8:12) The Spirit gives life. (James 8:13) You are not the flesh but the inner spiritual man. (Rom 8:9, Eph 3:16) Turn away from the flesh and look to Jesus. (Heb 2:9) Let the Holy Spirit flood into your heart. (Rom 1:4) Let the love of God be shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Ghost. (Rom 5:5)

Don't try to use the natural mind to control your temper for the flesh profits nothing. (John 6:63) The ministry, the Christ, within you will deliver you. (2Tim 1:9) Listen for His voice and reject the voice of your flesh. (Heb 4:6-11) Real righteousness is by grace through faith.

When you listen to His voice, righteousness springs forth by grace through faith.

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1. God speaks. He speaks through Scripture. When God speaks to us and we hear it, faith comes. (Rom 10:17) But we must wait for a word from God. We can't generate or work up this word. We can't even seek God unless God draws us. (John 6:44-45) (some caveats about hearing God's Voice)
2. God gives a word in season. God speaks through His people, through the gifts of the Spirit. (1Cor 12:2-3) God speaks through dreams and visions. (Num 12:6-9) God speaks through His creation. (Psa 19:2) We can refuse to hear, but we cannot generate God's voice. We must wait.
3. When God speaks, faith comes. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Literally, hearing by a word of God. How could we hear if God didn't speak. That is why we need to wait on Him and not rush off on our own. Much of what is called faith is simply rationalization or presumption. Real faith is God's faith. It is quite different from human faith.
4. When faith comes, it gives us access to God's grace. (Romans 5:2)
5. It is grace that does the work in us. (1Corinthians 15:10, Ephesians 2:10)
6. We must, however, yield ourselves to His grace. (Romans 6:12-22)
7. When God does His works through us, that is righteousness and it is a free gift from God to us. (Galatians 5:5, Romans 5:18, Romans 10:3)
8. Righteousness leads to holiness. (1 Peter 1:22, Romans 6:19 & 22, Ephesians 4:20-24) This is by the law of sowing and reaping. (Galatians 6:8)