November 25: Romans 7 21-25

Key Verse: Romans 7 23
but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.

Devotion:
If any of us say we have never been tempted, then we are living a lie and covering up something! I know I have been tempted many times and I know I have given into temptations many times as well – this is the way we are as humans and the way Christ warns us about. I seems to be in our nature to sin and to give in to temptation, which is why so many of us say it is so hard to give up that lifestyle!

The apostle gives a very apt description of how things are – we have a war going on inside of us, one of the good against evil at its very essence; but one we find hard to discern who’s side we should be on! We have our old habits and ways which dictate we should do what we have always done and do it to the best of our abilities. But are these ways actually best for us? When we have doubts, we need to bring them to Christ and ask for His guidance to find out what should be best for us. It is no good following our old ways if thy are wrong, no matter how long we have been living those ways!

We can feel like prisoners in our own bodies because we have our minds screaming at us to give in and follow those old ways. Christ wants us to stand firm in Him and on His promises, which give us hope and a way forward which does not involve giving in to those old ways. We do not have to be prisoners of those ways as long as we invite Christ in to guide us in new ways, His ways!

And if you think you are all alone in giving in to those ways and into your old life, then think again! I know I have been there and lived many years back in my old ways getting more and more stuck and entwined by the things around me. But when I admitted to those faults and asked God to once again guide me, I was able to rise above them and live a better life. I still face temptations and I still get things wrong, but I look to Christ for advice and guidance to live the way He would like me to live… I sometimes get it right!

Points to Ponder:
Are you fighting to break free from your old life?

Are you relying on God to give you the strength to break free?