Here Comes the Son
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Romans 7:15
Paul hit the nail on the head, with this philosophical statement from the book of Romans, did he not? We could apply this insight to almost any situation in life where we are confronted with a bit of struggle. Counting calories, yet we eat the cookie. Cleaning out the garage, yet we sit and binge the Netflix series. Making a phone call to an old friend, yet we piddle around the house. Praying more regularly yet gossiping with your buddy. Needing to stretch those old bones and muscles yet mindlessly scrolling the cell phone for hours. Saying I’ll drink more water yet pouring that glass of wine because it’s 5 o’clock somewhere. Keeping our mouths shut, yet we blurt our unsolicited opinion…insert your struggle here!
All the little things that surface to the forefront of your mind, that you know you SHOULD do, yet for whatever reason, you just don’t. Justifying our “right”-ness in our brain as to why we don’t have time, don’t have the money, don’t have the will power, or if we’re being honest, just flat out don’t care.
The internal war of good and evil, as they say. The angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. The realization that we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against the powers and principalities of spiritual forces of darkness. Little thoughts and feelings that float into our subconscious and we allow to take a bitter root. Before we know it, we’ve gone down a path that leads to seemingly nowhere, but an anxious and apprehensive way of life. And since we know this, and we are aware that the biggest issue to overcome is this internal struggle, then why do we continue to build roadblocks for ourselves? Can we choose to put down our weapons of self-destruction, and take ownership for our actions? Or do we have to find someone else to blame? When do we stop setting traps for our OWN minds and undo the habits that cause us to stumble?
The buck stops here. It stops with you. It stops with me. How, you ask? How can I stop thinking this “THING” or say no to those brownies, or find time to clean out that storage area, or call that friend, or pray…does HE hear me anyway?
I believe that HE does. But HE has to find us working towards a better version of ourselves. Wallowing never did anything for anyone. It can all seem very overwhelming!
Maybe if we take that “THING” or “THOUGHT” or “ACTION” one day at a time? If we just say to ourselves, LISTEN, YOU! Yeah, you in the mirror…just for TODAY, you’re not going to invade my mind. Point your finger at yourself! Say it with authority! Say it out loud! Just THIS time, I’m gonna say NO to that laziness, that excuse, that urge, that want. TODAY I’m going to chose a better mindset for myself. Yesterday’s gone. Nothing I can do about that now. Tomorrow is too far away for me to have anxiety and angst over. So, just for today, I’m going go choose to strap on my boots, lace up, and raise my face towards the SON. It’s alright. Today, I chose to live in the moment. Just for today, I will let myself off the hook for things I’ve done and not deny myself the future I’ve been searching for. Just for today. And when tomorrow arrives, I’ll do the same thing.
Will it all be sunshine and roses? Doubtful. But you know…a lot of it actually can be! TODAY, chose to overcome your old mindset. Throw those cookies in the trash! Get out there and organize that garage! Move your body until you feel good! Pick up the phone and call that friend! Just for today, don’t pour that drink. Just for today practice holding your tongue. Just for today, say to yourself, I will NOT ambush my own brain into thinking the world is against me! Just for today, we’re not going to do the thing that makes us hate ourselves. Today, I will choose the path of peace and least resistance. Today I will walk in the light, and with the Son.
“You will go out in joy and be led in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12
What are your thoughts on doing the things you know you shouldn’t? How does it make you feel? How do you deal? I’d love to know….
