Doing what is right...even when it's hard

This is another in our series of blog entries focusing on the life of a Christian. Wouldn't it be wonderful if once we became a believer, we were never tempted again? And even better ...if we never sinned again? But we are tempted. This is the Christian struggle - for the spirit to win over the desires of the flesh.




Paul captured this struggle well:
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. - Galatians 5:17 ESV

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. - Romans 7:21-24 ESV

Yet, God has promised us strength to do the right thing. 

 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. - 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. -1 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

This brings us to the question: in that moment of decision, how do we make the right choice? There are many things we can do to prepare ourselves for that moment of decision. In past blogs we brought up several things including remembering the outcome of past mistakes, knowing Scripture, making godly decisions, and abstaining from even the appearance of evil.

But in that moment of decision, in that split second, a four letter word could help save the day. "PRAY". 

Prayer is our lifeline to God - and even in that moment of temptation all you can do is get out "Help me Lord", it is your lifeline. That call awakens your subconscious to the fact that you are about to do something that Jesus would have you abstain from, thereby increasing the odds your conscience mind will do something about it. Secondly it reaches out asking the Lord for His power to overcome. 

So in that moment of temptation, we can:

• Be prepared
• Do our best to do the right thing
• PRAY

-The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. (2 Thes 3:18 NASB)