Struggling with Sin

The law is good, then.  The trouble is not with the law but with me, becasue I am sold into slavery, with sin as my master.  I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it.  Instead, I do the very thing I hate.  I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good.  But I can’t help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things.

I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned.  No matter which way I turn, I can’t make myself do right.  Iwant to, but I can’t.  When I want to do good, I don’t.  And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway.  But if I am doing what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing it; the sin within me is doing it. 

It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.  I love God’s law with all of my heart.  But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind.  This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.  Oh, what a miserable person I am!  Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin?  Thank God!  The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.  So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. 

I read this passage last night in the bible (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).  As a human we live in a sinful world, its tough enough morally making right decisions.  Its even harder once we accept the Lord our God as our Saviour.   I think it would be harder for someone who is not a believer to try to understand, but I think as a believer you understand what I am saying.  In my bible theres explanations of passages.  I liked the following corner stone, so I thought I would include it. 

Living to please God may seem like a daunting task.  And for some, it is.  They struggle to live up to a list of do’s and don’ts.  They try to obtain God’s favor through acts of kindness and compassion.  They attempt to “appease” God for their sinful behavior by going to church or making a “confession.”  But this passage- in fact, this entire chapter in Romans-lets you know that it is possible to live a life that is pure and pleasing to God.

The beginning verses of this chapter explain that once we enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ, God frees us from the “vicious circle” of sin and death through the power of his Holy Spirit.  This terminology illustrates the basis of our freedom; In essence, the Holy Spirit you received by accepting Jesus Christ into your life has made you a “slave” of Jesus Christ-not a “slave” of your sinful nature.

01/16/07

Doing what is right should be a privilege, so why does it feel like a chore?  I feel tired of always trying to do what is right, to be nice to everyone, everywhere, everytime.  I am tired of always trying to make everyone happy.  Guilt overpowers me if I am anything less, but I know God didn’t intend for me to be miserable all the time.  I read so many different prayer books;  “The Confident Woman,” by Joyce Meyer, “The Purpose Driven Life,” by Rick Warren, “The Power of a Praying Wife,” by Stormil Omartian, “Being a Wise Woman in a Wild World,” by Robin Chaddock, “Starting your Marriage Right,” by Dennis and Barbara Rainey, “Boundaries,” by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend.  They are all very good books, and a few I’ve read a couple of times.  I know that there are many more books that I should read.  And no where do any of these books sugest that to be Christ like is to be perfect.  On the contrary most of these books are really good books.  I personally really like “The purpose driven life,” and “The power of a praying wife,” but whenever I see someone doing something Worldly I slightly envy that person, and then I ask for forgiveness from God. I am so far off from being perfect, on the other hand I am not bad iether, I hope.  I feel un-noticed, unappreciated, and taken for granted.  Welcome to everyone elses world, right?  I feel boring, yet boring seems safe.  Its like a comfortable pair of faded blue jeans and an old pair of tenashoes with a cozy sweatshirt that you know you should have thrown away a long time ago, along with a base ball cap, so you don’t have to worry about doing your hair. 

I aim to please God, and I know I am still a far way off, but I do hope when that time comes when I have to stand before God, that He will be proud of me for something. That I won’t waist my time here on earth.