Messing Up

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I know that nothing good lives 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 what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-this I keep doing.

Romans 7:18-19(NIV)

“Mom, I am a terrible person. I lost my temper again and said things I don’t mean. I keep trying, but it is just a cycle of messing up and asking for forgiveness and messing up again. I feel like I am no good.”

These were the words of my daughter one day after saying something to me and her brother that she regretted saying. I am sure we can all relate to her struggle. After talking to her about this I thought of these verses in Romans where Paul is talking about wanting to do good but the struggle to stay on that path even when it is our hearts desire.

You see so many times when we do wrong we truly desire to do what is right, but the flesh prevails. There are days it seems as if this happens more than it should and we feel defeated. That day my daughter was feeling just utterly defeated. She has a desire to do good but instead was finding herself doing wrong. Satan loves for us to feel this way. He loves to make us feel defeated and no good. No matter much we tell ourselves it is not about what we do but about what was done on the cross for us we still get caught up in our works.

It is times like these that we need to redirect our thinking. We need to go back to the truth of who we are in Christ. That day was a valuable teaching time for my daughter. Satan had her believing that she was a failure. I had the opportunity to speak truth into her life about who she is in Christ. I also was able to share with her that no one has the ability to be perfect this side of heaven but with the power of the Holy Spirit(the same power that rose Christ from the dead by the way) we do have opportunity for change in our lives.

No we will never be perfect but I am not the same person I was 10 years ago or even last month for that fact. We have hope. Someday we will be perfect, but in the meantime we need to keep pressing ahead rejoicing all along that we have a God who rejoices in forgiving us our sins and delights to show us mercy.

How about you? Do you desire to do what is right but find yourself in a constant struggle with the flesh? Take heart beloved our time here is short. Hang on to the truth. Don’t believe the lie and keep pressing on. We will join him in the heavens someday and there we will be perfect.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13(NIV)

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.

Ephesians 1:18(NIV)

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you that in you we have hope. Help us to remember that you love us and even when we mess up you delight to show us mercy. Fill us Lord with joy and peace that our hope will overflow and out of that overflow we become better people for you and your glory alone. Amen.

Questions for reflection:

Do you have find yourself feeling like my daughter did that day?

When those feelings arise what do you do about it?

What is your struggle today?

Take it to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine!

In Him,

Denise

Join Denise daily at her personal blogspot, Choosing Today.