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. 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. --Romans 7:15-18
There's a story of a wealthy man who went duck hunting with his hired help. They traveled in a horse and carriage, and along their way a rim came off one of the wheels. As the hired hand hammered it back on, he accidentally hit his finger. With that, he let go with a few bad words, but then quickly fell to his knees asking God's forgiveness.
The man prayed, "Lord, it's so difficult at times to live the Christian life."
The man's boss responded to his prayer, "I know you're a Christian, but tell me why you struggle. I'm an atheist and I don't have problems like that."
The employee didn't know what to say. All of a sudden, two ducks flew overhead. The wealthy man raised his gun and two shots rang out in the air. He shouted to his hired help, "Leave the dead one and go after that wounded bird!"
His employee pointed at the duck that was fluttering and struggling desperately to escape and said, "Boss, I've got an answer for you now. You said that my Christianity isn't any good because I have to struggle. I'm like that wounded duck struggling to get away from the devil. But, you're the dead duck, Boss!"
The Apostle Paul struggled just as we do in the Christian life. Battling the devil in this spiritual war is merely evidence of God working in your life. As a child of God, you've been forgiven of your sin, so Satan has to work even harder to get you to fail. But don't despair because God has empowered you with the Holy Spirit so that you may have victory over sin through salvation in Him.
PRAYER CHALLENGE: Pray that your heart would be set on Jesus and that the struggle in your life would drive you to your knees in prayer to Him.
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