Hi there! I hope you’re having an amazing week! Today, Anna Peters is guest posting for me. 🙂 She writes about her struggles with giving into her sin nature and provides some tips for winning this struggle by trusting the Lord. I know you’ll be uplifted by her story!
Bitter, angry words flew from my mouth toward my siblings, which shut them down and wounded their hearts. I sat selfishly at the computer and let my mom do all the supper preparations, even though I knew better. In bed that night, I looked back over my day and inwardly wept. My meanness and thoughtlessness surprised me.
I want to treat my siblings with kindness and help my mom, but selfishness always gets the best of me. I identify with Paul’s anguished words in Romans chapter 7: “For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate” (Romans 7:15 NASB).
I want to live in a worthy manner according to Ephesians 4:1. I want to imitate God’s character, a light that shines for Him in a dark world. I want to fulfill my sacred call to spread His gospel.
But, then I start to give in to the desires and lusts of my flesh and find it hard to walk “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).
I see where I need to change, but every time I try to change, I can’t. I become discouraged and angry because I act just as bad or worse than before. I turned to God and asked Him to show me the answer to this struggle.
He reminded me of the good heart He gave me that desires godly attitudes and habits. He also showed me that I looked for strength in the wrong place. I relied on myself to provide the stamina I needed to change. Not surprisingly, all my attempts proved futile.
God patiently re-teaches me that to live and walk the way He meant, only comes through Jesus and His power. I need a perfect, mighty Savior to come alongside and give strength to change. This lesson comes with difficulty, but my failures teach me to trust God’s strength.
My struggle taught me three helpful things: First, to confess my sin and admit where I messed up. Instead of venting anger at myself, I need to immediately repent and ask forgiveness, which restores my relationship with the Lord. Secondly, I need to ground myself in God’s Word and let its living and cleansing waters wash over me. And thirdly, I turn to my Source of strength, and ask for His peace, His love, His humility, and His patience, and let Him equip and empower me. I turn to face the new day in God’s strength and to walk in a manner worthy of His call on my life.
I hope He encourages you, brothers and sisters, by Christ’s power over sinful habits.
Anna Peters loves all things aesthetic, peppermint, coffee and writing. Travel and reading are two of her deepest passions, and enjoys spending time with family and friends. She writes ultimately for God’s glory and shares her own experiences, failures, dreams, and lessons in hopes that it will encourage and uplift others on her blog, NorthernHeartsAlaska.
P.S. Try to check out Anna’s blog (NorthernHeartsAlaska) and leave some comments on her post! Thanks, friends! 🙂
Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth 