I Cannot Carry It Out

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."
"I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the 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."
"For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Romans 7:15, 18-19, 22-25

Why is it that I can't seem to get it together? Why is it that I go back to the same sin time and time again? In my mind and in my heart, I know that eating less (and eating the right type of food), along with strenuous exercise, will produce weight loss, which is my goal. And while I know that eating vegetables is good in any diet book or plan made on earth, when I've had a rough or exhausting day, I sway right back to the comfort of foods I know I should be wary of like pasta and sweets. And, not only do I sit down to have them, I eat far too much for one person in one sitting. I know that I have the right parts of the equation down, I just can't seem to keep adding them together to equal the results I'm looking for.

Today I was up a pound on the scale. Last night I didn't eat a good dinner because of my overloaded schedule, which led to a late-night snack of massive proportions. Then I didn't work out this morning because I slept in, feeling exhausted from the day before and knowing that today was going to be busy. Why, Lord, do I go back to doing the same old habits? The answer is in this passage...because I have a sinful nature. In my very nature, I have the tendencies to become a slave to sin.

But, who will rescue me? THANKS BE TO GOD - THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD! He is the only One who can save me. I've come to the end of myself. I obviously am not going to win this battle on my own. Once again, I must fall face down to the ground and humbly ask for forgiveness. Once again, I give my body and my strength over to the Lord and ask to exchange yokes. Once again I must ask for his mercy and grace in my life. And, I know that He can rescue me! He can break this bondage of slavery to sin.

While I can't seem to eat right on my own or exercise every morning without Him, I know that by His strength, we can continue on this journey...all for His glory. I have nothing to boast about except my Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear God, thank You for this passage. Lord, it helps me to remember that Paul, the amazing author of this passage, had similar struggles to me. Why can't we seem to do what we know is right? Lord, help us. Forgive us where we go astray, and lead us right back on the path of righteousness. Thank You that You can break this ugly cycle through Your Son Jesus. We are nothing in and of ourselves - our boast is only in You. May You receive all the glory and honor for the results we have faith are coming. In Jesus' name, AMEN!