Today

Today – the first day of the rest of my life.

My actions get in the way of my thoughts, my plans, my desires, my wishes. My actions – often the result of Satan planting seeds of doubt, therefore I react – my reaction is not to my good, not positive, but very negative.

It is as Paul writes in Romans 7:14-23 (New Living Translation) …

“The law is good, then. The trouble is not with the law but with me, because I am sold into slavery, with sin as my master. I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good. But I can’t help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things. I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can’t make myself do right. I want to, but I can’t. When I want to do good, I don’t. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. But if I am doing what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing it; the sin within me is doing it.  It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart.  But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.”  

Jesus tells us in John 8:31-32, 36 (New King James) …

“If you abide in My word … you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

FREE

Freedom from sin, freedom from the hold Satan has on you.

Satan strives every minute of every day to reduce us to slavery.

“He who is of God hears God’s words; " (John 8:47a)

We hear

We comprehend

But!

Our actions belie our hearing, our comprehending

Our actions give way to a single moment of desire and Satan has us hook, line and sinker. Our desire consumes us – it becomes of more importance than anything else.

We are of God

We hear His word

Yet, unfortunate it is, complete and total allegiance, obedience to Him is missing.

Who am I under?

God’s will

or Satan’s dart of contention warring within me

Who do I serve

Romans 8:5 tells us “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”

Who do I please

Who do I want to please

What do I want to please

The troubles of the moment will overwhelm us if we don’t look at the overall picture! - If we don’t look to God.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)

“(Likewise) the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses for we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:26-28)

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31a)

Who?

“Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect?
Who is he who condemns?
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
What will separate us?

Not tribulation, nor distress, nor persecution, nor famine, nor nakedness, nor peril, nor sword.” (Romans 8:33-35)

I am complete in Him.

Our actions may belie our thoughts from time to time, but we are not to stay there.

Our thoughts must always bring us to Jesus.

Our actions must be a result of where God brings us, NOT into a corner where Satan continually strives to drive us.

We must remember to continually look to Him for our everything. For with Him, in Him, I can do anything. 

Without Him, I remain floundering in an open sea without a life jacket, without Hope.