This Week's Topic: My Life is a Hopeless Mess

Is THIS sometimes you?

"I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." Romans 7:13 (ESV)

So, what's up with that?

Do you ever do exactly the opposite of what you really want, deep down, to do? Do you ever do so, even though you know, not only that you won’t be happy afterwards, but that you won’t really enjoy doing it while you’re doing it!!!

Here’s a very trite but real example for me. I want to not eat badly or overeat. Yet yesterday I went to McDonald’s for breakfast and had a sausage and egg McGriddle and a ham and egg McGriddle. I knew that I would regret doing that (and indeed I did and do) and I knew that, although they taste good, I would not enjoy eating them very much because they would be gone too fast and they’re not that good. But I did it anyway. Why?   An easy answer is escape and comfort food and all the psychology stuff, none of which helps me much.

The bigger thing to me is that it keeps happening and that on my own I’m in trouble. I like very much the question in verse 24, “who will rescue me” (from doing what I don’t want to do?).

What is your answer?

Prayer

“Lord, help! I have old destructive habits and a weak will. I need to stop trying and let you train me. Help me Lord, to accept the rigor of learning new habits, however painful. Amen."