A Fierce Battle

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. (Romans 7:14, Emphasis mine)

How often do we find ourselves slaves to our sin? Tangled up in the chains that tie us down and remind us of our human nature? For me, it is a constant, everyday battle between what my flesh begs me to do and what I know is right. I look at myself and wonder how those hurtful words ever made it out of my mouth, or how those evil thoughts implanted themselves in my mind.

As I was sobbing, er, trying to explain my feelings to my husband I kept saying over and over, "It's like I have two personalities - a really nice Kalyn and then the Kalyn I don't want anyone to ever see, but unfortunately comes out. I'm not schizophrenic, am I?"

He laughed and then lovingly replied, "No sweetheart, that is just the battle between the Spirit and the flesh."

The battle? Oh right, the Battle. Sometimes I forget that I really am in a battle between the Prince of Darkness and the Holy One. It rages every day, every hour, and every minute of my life and I am torn between giving in to what I feel like doing and what I know is right.

Obviously Paul had the same issue......

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)

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?(Romans 7:24a)

Oh man, I could easily work my way into a spiritual depression if I allowed myself to. I am wretched! I am often the man in James who looks at himself in the mirror and then walks away and forgets what he has become. Other times, I take a long, hard look at myself and just weep over my sinful nature. What have I become? Who will deliver me from this body of death? Why should I even try to fight the good fight, if I know I will fall right back down again?"

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do.

By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4, Emphasis mine)

Let those precious words of Scripture just wash over you right now. If you are a born again believer, than you can confidently keep pressing on because you have hope. You can win the battle because you and I have been set free. The battle still rages within us, but we do not have to despair. We have already fulfilled God's righteousness requirement through his Son. How amazing is that?

The next time another battle comes upon me (which will most likely happen before the day is through), I have two choices to make:
1. I can succumb to the pleading of my flesh or
2. I can listen to the Spirit and follow what is right, true, noble, pure, excellent, and praiseworthy.

Which one will you choose?