The Struggle

"I can want to do what is right, but I am unable to do it. In fact, I do not do the good I want, but the evil I hate." - Romans 8:18-19

This here is the every day battle for the Christian - failing to do what we know God wants from us and falling subject to sin. We know the difference between good and bad so clearly, but every day something comes up and we promise ourselves we won't be bad, we won't sin, but before we know it, we fall and end up disappointing ourselves; feeling ashamed.

What do we do when this happens? I, for one, always beat myself up and wonder how I gave into evil so easily. It feels like all the praying I do, reading the bible, going to church was all in vain because there I am, back to square one. I feel like I don't deserve to follow Him because I'm just not good enough, obviously, if I can't stop from talking behind someone's back, cursing, putting someone down, or not helping someone out when I know I could have. And I know these things are bad, and I really don't want to do them, but they just happen so easily. As much as I want to avoid them, they are so much easier to do than good deeds I want to do.

This is the natural way to feel but it does NOT mean you're not a good Christian. These are the normal feelings one gets when one falls into sin, but do not allow it to take hold of you for another second because if you do, it's no longer your conscience speaking to you, it's the devil himself trying to knock you down and keep you from God. He caused you to sin and he wants to make sure you feel completely defeated. At this point, you're back to how you used to be, frustrated, lost, without hope. That's where sin leads us to and that's where the devil wants to keep us.

It's at these times that God wants you to come to Him the most! He knows you are weak but all that matters to Him is that you keep trying! As Paul continues to say in Romans, we sin because sin exists in our flesh, but to combat the sin, God didn't give us a spirit of slavery, but a sprit that seeks life! He gave you His Holy Spirit to uplift you even when you fall so you can continue to get up and call on Him!

Today's Prayer:
My Lord, You know my spirit wants to do good and please You, but my flesh is weak and I end up failing You and what You have taught me. Give me the grace, Lord, to always pick myself up again and continue on the path that leads to You. In Your Name we pray, Amen.