Scripture Study
“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” – Romans 7:15
When you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, your identity changes, but you still have to live in a world that wants to keep drawing you back to your old self. Even though your old self was crucified with Christ, old sinful habits and desires can still pull at you, and often you will revert back to them without thinking. When it happens, you feel shame and regret and wonder how it happened.
It is a constant battle, but it is not a battle that is unique to you.
Paul talked about this in Romans 7:15: “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”
There is a little bit of comfort in knowing that even Paul described this struggle, but it can also be an overwhelming thought. If Paul struggled with it, then how am I supposed to overcome the sinful desires of my flesh?
In verse 18, he says, “For I have the desire to do what is right.” So, the desire is there. We know the things that we should do. We all know that we should read our Bibles more, pray, love others, and practice the other disciplines of a godly man, but we still often fail.
Walking by the Spirit, Not Willpower
Paul’s answer to this is to walk by the Spirit. This is found in Romans 8:13 and Galatians 5:16–18. We can’t do it with our own willpower. We must walk by the Spirit and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit that is available to all believers.
Walking by the Spirit means learning to depend on God throughout our day instead of relying on our own strength. It means:
Spending time in His Word
Talking to Him through prayer
Being willing to listen and respond when He convicts us or leads us
Recognizing when we’re being tempted and turning to God for the strength to respond differently
No Condemnation in Christ
But what happens when we fail again?
The good news is that our failures don’t define who we are in Christ. Romans 8:1 reminds us, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
That doesn’t mean we should become comfortable with sin or stop fighting against it. It means that when we fail, we don’t have to remain trapped in guilt and shame. We can confess our sin, receive God’s forgiveness, and continue moving forward, depending on the Holy Spirit to help us change.
Walking by the Spirit doesn’t mean we will never struggle again. It means we don’t have to fight the battle in our own strength.
Your Identity Is Secure
Maybe you’ve been struggling with the same sin for years. You’ve tried to change, you’ve made promises to yourself, and you’ve failed more times than you want to admit. Don’t allow those failures to convince you that you can’t change or that God is finished working in your life.
Your failures may remind you of your weakness, but they don’t change your identity in Christ.
This week, instead of focusing on how many times you’ve failed, focus on your relationship with Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you’ve been relying on your own strength and help you take the next step toward becoming the man God created you to be.
What is one area of your life where you need to stop relying on your own strength and start depending on the Holy Spirit?
Have a great day in Christ,
Matt
