The Hamster Wheel of Life

Do you ever feel like you are on the hamster wheel of life? You try and you try and you just can't overcome a bad habit? I can so relate to Paul in Romans 7:18 when he says,

But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do!

Have you ever felt frustrated about 'knowing what is the right thing to do, yet you still do the bad thing?'

Our life can spin out of control when we think we can sin without consequences and sin is usually outwardly appealing and initially enjoyable. Nothing says in the Bible that David's night spent with Bathsheba wasn't pleasurable? However, the consequences of his sin came after the initial gratification.

Galations 6:7 shares about the consequences of sin.

Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.

A recent bad habit that I have tried and tried on my own will power to overcome is poor nutritional habits and lack of exercise. It dawned on me that with the Holy Spirit dwelling in me, it is important for me to take can of my body, fueling it with proper nutrition and exercise. However the day I am going to make this dramatic change, I most of the time end up sub cumming to a tasty temptation or 'just don't' feel' like exercising. Then I over indulging on foods not good for me like donuts, candy, cake, cookies, and brownies. Can you tell what I have a weakness for? And I just continue on this hamster wheel of guilt and frustration.

The consequence of this sin has caused me to have a lower confidence about myself and often times will be reflected in my relationships with my husband, my daughters, family, or friends.

I have learned that I can't rely on my own 'will power' to overcome this sinful area of my life, but I need to rely on God's power in my life. I need to recognize and receive His love for me regardless of my past mistakes. I believe that Satan knows my area of weakness and works on me even harder to pull me down. However through the power, forgiveness, and strength of Christ, Satan can and will be over come. I can live in victory over sin!

1 John 1:9 states, 'If we claim that we're free of sin, we're only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing.'

So TODAY I choose God over sin! I repent my sin and KNOW that the slate as been wiped clean. I can step off of the hamster wheel and onto a path already laid out for me, a path filled with abundance and blessings because I KNOW that....

The my LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youth will grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40: 28 - 32

Blessings,

Jill