He Delivers

Today at, A Holy Experience,  we will be finishing our writing on the practice of fasting.

I know there are many people that choose to “fast” for this season. To give up something… or to let something go. I don’t celebrate Lent in this way. Although, there is something to be said for preparing ones self in the days leading up to Easter. To look inwardly (each of us personally) and know what our heart holds. It is when we are honest and see ourselves for what we truly are….that we can begin to understand the need for a Redeemer.

²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 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. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!  Romans 7  NIV

Last week, I started a new health and wellness program. After much reading and researching, I have committed to this program. I knew that I would have to give up things that I have grown to love. Things that are unhealthy, and bad for me, but that I’ve allowed to set a precedent in my life.

And it is hard.

The body wants, what the body wants. Temptation is all around. There is never a greater battle to be fought, than the one that we fight within ourselves. I can understand what Paul meant when he said that he wants to do the right thing, but he keeps doing the things he doesn’t want to do. It becomes more and more, not about giving up sugar or processed foods, but about me. My opportunity is to lay even this seemingly simple, mundane thing down at the feet of Christ. To know within myself that I, not only can’t do this eating program alone, I would miserably fail.

Thank the Lord, that He did not leave me a prisoner to my own sin. Not to fight my own battles, whatever they may be, not to struggle with the day to day events that are frustrating…or those incidences that leave me feeling insecure or unsure.

So, it is in the giving up, I find the pouring out. In the laying down, I find the rising up.

And it is in Christ, I find that He alone is who I need.

¹³ I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4 NIV

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