Dear Rev. When I try I always seem to go back to my old ways. As Paul wrote the very things I don’t want to do are the very things I do. What can I do?
It’s true that Paul the apostle struggled too, but he found the answer when he said – “Oh wretched man that I am, who will save me from this body of death? I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord” – Romans 7:24. He knew it was Jesus Christ who would help him. So this is the first step, in your desperation and frustration, call out to the Lord for whatever it is you can’t seem to overcome. Secondly, the more you are filled with God’s Spirit the more power you will have over sin. Paul wrote, “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature” – Galatians 5:16. Finally, you need to get the right things in your mind. This means to be more careful about what you watch on TV or the kind of music you listen to. In its place, spend more time reading the Bible. The Bible says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” – Romans 12:2. It is the word of God (the Bible) that transforms our minds into right thinking. God bless you.
