We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! - Romans 7:14-25
Dear Lord Jesus, I look forward to many things in heaven but none so much as the freedom I will experience from my sinful self. I am so tired of knowing the right thing to think and do, but choosing to do the wrong. The more I learn about your will and ways, the more it feels like there are signs everywhere saying, "Wet paint." that beg me to touch. I can see from a distance a negative reaction to a problem and promise myself that I will not do it, and almost like the script of a predictable movie, there I go, thinking and saying the very thing I promised you and me both that I would not! I can't stand me! But I am glad that you can. You rescue me with grace first and grace last. I am forgiven. I am loved. I am strengthened. I know that I can improve with your grace and power, but improvement is not what I need as much as grace. Help me always to desire both but to live in grace while I simply work on improvement I want to keep in step with your Spirit. AMEN
"Being a child of God is much better than doing everything perfectly."