Romans 7:15 ESV For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
In the same chapter, Paul inspires me to have hope like he had:
Romans 7:24-25
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Through this tempest,I experienced the work of God's grace and the passages in the Bible jumping out at me: There are many,but I will only list some:
1. Only Jesus saves!He redeems me,rescues me-in the Present Tense, as He does this even now,again and again,without limit.- However,this is not an excuse to sin.
2.I understand that all the resources available to me-books,counselling,even the Bible itself, would not be enough to get rid of entanglement. Just reading good books,avoiding the cause of sin,beating myself up trying to forget,-these only offers temporary relief- (like just for a few minutes)-it would not be of any help if I am not in step with the spirit,broken before God and waiting on Him to vindicate me.I have to set my mind on things above.I had to go deeper than just asceticism.
Colossians 2:20-23
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
Colossians 3:1-2
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
3.I can be so hopeless and depressed,my self-defeating thoughts can be paralyzing.But this is not God's will for me.I have been washed,sanctified and justified by Jesus' blood.Again ,no one can do this but Him.
1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
To the outside world,I may look put together(kind,brave,positive,intelligent-like how my sister describes me)-but inside I have a fierce battle of putting to death the misdeeds of the body and keeping the fire burning to please God by having my mind set on what the Spirit desires and having faith in Him.
4.My church family helps me-with their prayers and encouragement.God uses people to teach me with the help of His inspired word that teaches,corrects,rebukes and trains.
This year I am committing to memory Romans 8.
I'm also currently reading In His Steps by Charles M. Sheldon (html version from Project Gutenberg) with the challenge- What would Jesus do? and do it regardless of the result.
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| while it is still dark |
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| umbrellas lend to the tropical feel |
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| hmmm I like this angle |
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| it's not a painting-it is a framed fabric |