The Wretched Woman and the Thing I Wanna Do

                        

                      Have you ever had one of those days when you tell yourself:

• “Today, I am going to overlook that person who thinks pointing out everyone’s sins makes them a saint

• remain humble in the presence of the girl who’s absolutely impressed with herself

• say encouraging things to the one with no self esteem

• not get irritated at my impatient customers

• not lose my temper when I have to repeat the same information 99 times to the voice activated customer service line

• Adopt a child from a war ravaged country

• Feed the homeless…all of them

• Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity

• Pick up trash on the side of the road because it’s the right thing to do

• be kind if it kills me…….”

 And  basically just commit that today I am going to be a “Good Girl.” You know, a Proverbs 31 kinda lady..I’m unconsciously hoping that with my commitment, my value in the spiritual realm will certainly increase to far above rubies……….(I know, I’m fooling myself folks, but a girl can dream right?).  Well, I gotta tell ya, I tell myself this a lot.  I have the best intentions when I wake up at 8:00 a.m. and read my Bible.  I record God’s promises and claim them in my life on a daily basis…….. but by noon…or maybe earlier on a really bad day,…….. some of those things go right out the window. I lose the special glasses that help me overlook, humility is hard to find, irritation is a reflex.. and well, after the 2^nd or 3^rd time of repeating myself and pressing zero for an operator, my blood pressure is indicating I need to take more medication.  Kindness becomes a word that I vaguely remember and certainly completely forgot how to exercise.  By this time I feel discouraged.  I had high hopes…….the best intentions…. but somehow the flesh won out.  The enemy would have me believe I’m all alone in my struggle and God could never do anything with this mess of …………..me.  But the word hidden deep in my heart surfaces and whispers a glimmer of hope into my despair.

 Romans 7:15

I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate.

Sounds like me…………..

But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.  So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.

Nothing good Lord?

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.

Are you totally confused now?  and yep, that definitely sounds like me………(Now say “She sells sea shells down by the seashore.”  50 times!.....really fast)

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.

I love it when I have an excuse don’t you????  That’s right…the devil made me do it ………….JK L

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.

Amen brother!.................

I love God's law with all my heart.

I really do!...............................

But there is another power  within me that is at war with my mind. This power 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 and death?

Before I go crazy?

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. (7:25)

May I emphasize THANK GOD!!!!

Wow, Paul………..the author of most of the New Testament felt the same way I do?  Hard to imagine…………he was such a “Good” guy.  He had such faith, such commitment, he was so spiritual!...........  So where does that leave me? 

Some days I run the race well, some days I cover more distance, some days I fall, some days I don’t even want to get back up.

But I think of my comrade Paul…….he fought the fight, he finished the race. 

And that leaves me..................

Hopeful-----That God, who began the good work within (me), will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6

Amen?