I think humankind as a whole wants to do what is right and what is good. I know I do. Unfortunately our fleshly desires and selfish motives make us fail daily. Do you feel defeated, empty, frustrated because you do the things you really don't want to do?
"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 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. I have to desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it." Romans 7:14-20
That verse not only tongue ties me, but also frustrates me about the sin living in me. Plus I relate to it so much because I do the things I don't want to do! Do you feel that frustration with me??!! (Like when the anger swells up inside of me when I want one moment to do what I want to do and I have three small children that ALWAYS seem to be in need!!) Galatians 5:7-8 says "for the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful flesh. they are in conflict with each other so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law."
So He gave us the solution, which is His Spirit. The Spirit sets us free from law and sin and death (Romans 8:4). Jesus was our offering. If we have Christ, we have His Spirit, and the Spirit is alive within us. God wants to separate us from sin, but we absolutely no way no how can do it without HIM, and His Spirit which fills us with all things wonderful (fruits of the spirit see Gal 5:22-25). God = Good. We need God(father, son, Holy Spirit) to = any good in our lives.
I've said it before, 1st John 5:14 tells us "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." So ask to be filled, empowered, with His Spirit. With love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, GOODNESS, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, the mind of Christ. We know he wants us to do what he asks, so we need to ask! Even when we don't know what to ask for the spirit will help us in our weakness! (Romans 8:26-27) The Spirit helps us do what we want to do, and we have confidence that God will help us!
YES YES I am foolish and after beginning with the Spirit, I try to attain my goals by human effort (Gal 3:3) I daily have to ask to be filled by the Spirit and led by God. And YES some days I'll forget and catch myself in a selfish, cranky moment with God's reminder to lean on him and not myself. Its like faking it till I make it. Which doesn't work. I can fake being good, but there is no good apart from God. Everything good comes from above. So I guess if I fake being good and good comes from it, it comes to show God works through all circumstances! Isn't He amazing?!
Know that good comes even in the mundane. As a mom, my children are my ministry, so even though I want to be selfish and do what I want they have many needs I'm here to fulfill. Currently I sit here next to my 3 year old watching Thomas, next to the fort we just built, laundry going, and come to find out a spilled chocolate chip melted to my bum, I know God is with me. His Spirit is Here. Good is here, which means God is here. In this moment I'm truly happy and not in need of anything else. If we focus on Christ, we don't think about the things we want or don't have. Good is happening around us, we just have to open our eyes.
Lord I pray for more of you, less of me. Empty me and fill me with you. Overflow me. Give me the mind of Christ you promise your Spirit gives. Fill me with your Spirit as I walk through this day, where I am at this moment I know you meet me right where I am. Thank you. Thank you for your Son, and that I can't and don't have to do this life on my own. Help me to rely on you and your Spirit moment by moment.
