The Trap

​Does anyone else ever get caught in this trap, or is it just me? I know what I want to do, but somehow I don’t seem to get it done. There are things I want to avoid, obstacles that have gotten in my way in the past and I am determined to avoid these same obstacles, only to find myself tripping over them again. Then I reread these words from Romans: 

“And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.”
Romans‬ 7:18-20‬ NLT‬‬

All of us have this sin problem. No matter how hard we try, we can’t avoid it.  There is the reality that we still possess a sinful nature and we will continue to stumble; however, this doesn’t mean we give up the fight and give in to all of our sinful desires. 

This is where God’s grace kicks in. He forgives us even when we struggle with that same obstacle right in front of us. The sinful nature won’t be with us forever. When we get to heaven with God we get to leave that part behind. What an amazing thing that will be; freedom from the weight of our sinful nature pulling us down each day. 

In the meantime, continue to fight the good fight with God’s help. Then when you stumble, feel the grace and forgiveness God wants to freely pour out to us. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith; and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; not by works, so no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.