Fighting the Flesh Daily - I Do what I Hate

Why is it that no matter how bad we don't want to act a certain way, or say certain things, we end up doing exactly what we hate? 

I find that the most difficult struggles in my life are those small things about myself that I so want to change but I fail time and time again at changing them. It's the lack of patience, irritability that comes up at times, and as much as I hate that part of myself, it seems impossible to change.

God has shown me those small things that need work in my character not too long ago, and I want to work on improving in those areas. I want a gentle and quiet spirit. I want to be completely loving and patient 24/7, 365. Is that a goal that is even attainable? lol

I can relate so much with Paul in Romans 7 when he writes, "15 I do not understand myself. I want to do what is right but I do not do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. 16 When I do the thing I do not want to do, it shows me that the Law is right and good. 17 So I am not doing it. Sin living in me is doing it. 18 I know there is nothing good in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do good but I do not. 19 I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I am always doing the sinful things I do not want to do. 20 If I am always doing the very thing I do not want to do, it means I am no longer the one who does it. It is sin that lives in me."

Well if Paul had this struggle, I must be doomed right? lol. No I don't believe so, because he finishes this chapter with these words, "25 God’s Law has power over my mind, but sin still has power over my sinful old self. I thank God I can be free through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

So we can gain freedom from these areas in our lives through Jesus Christ our Lord. I will keep getting up when I fall and fighting to become the person Christ wants me to be...I believe perfection only comes in the resurrection when God brings us home. But until then, I will keep fighting this flesh and sinful nature. I can't give up hope. "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)

The Value of Me

Today was a good day...I sang God's Love Song and will also be singing tomorrow. I love to use the gifts God has given me to bless others!

Something profound has been happening in my life lately. I'm starting to feel more comfortable in my skin as time passes. I'm starting to see the value of "me". Not in a vain type of way, but as a child of God. I'm starting to realize the importance of carrying out the task God has entrusted me with.

I've always been critical on myself and compared myself with others. Many times I'd compare someones beauty to mine, wishing that I could look more like this or that, wishing I could change a feature about myself. Sometimes the comparison would be a personality trait or even someone else's talents.Whatever it was, I always placed a lower value on myself versus the other individual.

God's taken me to a new place in my life. A place of self content, knowing my worth in the sight of God as His unique creation. Knowing that there's not one single person in this entire world like me. We're all so special and important to God in our own ways. Not one of us shares the same task!

The bible says we are all part of one body....can the body function properly with a missing eye or a missing hand? Sure, it can still manage but not as well as it would with the eye and the hand. That's how each one of us is, a part of the body that no matter how small, serves a crucial role in keeping the body working at its best!

I am beautiful...not only outwardly, but inwardly--the beauty that lasts for eternity and is so precious to God. And so are you! So let's stop comparing things that were never meant to be comparable! Love how God made you!

~Jeannie

Distractions, Distractions...

I've realized the magnitude of the distractions we face in our daily lives. Whether it's work related stresses, financial, television, and even people, we encounter distractions everywhere we turn. What concerns me is when we let these things take up our mind so much that our focus is off of God. This should not be so! But it happens more often than not.

There was a time when I realized that I was watching too much LMN (Lifetime Movie Network) lol. I guess I'm a sucker for dramatic movies...But I realized that this was taking up too much of the time I should be spending reading God's word or just learning more about God. Now I cut my TV time down significantly. Sure I still watch HGTV sometimes and some shows with my hubby. Also there are the disney movie nights with the family! But I try to prioritize so that I spend enough time learning about God's word and feeding my spirit, not just entertaining myself. I think we all should examine where our priorities are, and make sure that God is always the center focus of our daily living. God bless!

~Jeannie