Will this struggle end?

When I think of the word struggle it remains me of a fight, kind of like the tug of war game I use to play as a kid.  I remember lining up on one side and the opposite team lining up the other side with a muddy ditch dividing us. The target of the game was to avoid being drug into the mud. The team that entered the mud first was the loosing team.  In order to guarantee a win and avoid being dirty, I would pick the team that appeared to be the strongest.

Does this game of tug of war sound like the struggle you are facing today? Do you see yourself pulling with all your might to avoid falling only to find yourself sliding closer to the ditch?

In my Christian walk I have come to understand that the struggle that takes place within us is in fact a tug a war, it’s a war between the flesh and the spirit.  Galatians 5 states, “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would.”  If you said to yourself when I was describing the flesh, “Well, I have a lot of that still left in me,” it does not mean you aren’t a Christian. A Christian is not a person who experiences no struggle in the flesh. A Christian is a person who is at war with those desires by the power of the Spirit.

For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps weakening my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

The only power sin has over you is deception. Without a knowledge of the Grace of God and understanding that sin has lost it’s power in your life you will find yourself fighting against the desire in your body with your body. It’s like arm wrestling against yourself.

How do I with stand the temptation and struggle that is at war within me and avoid falling into the ditch?

The bibles tells us the law gives sin power in your life but But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. You see, we cannot change ourselves, and this is something we all need to come to realize no matter how strong your will power maybe.  The more you rely on the your own will power, strength the more you will find yourself in that muddy ditch. However we are not meant to sit there and sulk in self condemnation. No, we are meant to run into the loving arms of Christ, where his blood has cleansed us.

You do not have to continue to be in a tug a war match. If you will let go and turn the fight over to Jesus you will not only find peace but freedom to live in His grace without struggle. Satan wants you to think that the war isn’t over But I have good new for you today. Jesus has defeated every temptation you are facing. He not only defeated it but he has striped it’s power from ruling your life.

Friends remember sin only has power when deception is received. Deception say’s you have to do something in yourself to overcome the struggle But truth say’s Jesus has already done it all!

Confession of Faith:

I believe the message of the cross and I choose to run to God focusing on truth that the struggle I’m facing has been defeated by the precious blood of Jesus.

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