On my mind...

So there's a lot on my mind lately - I know you're all surprised - and today there was a partial scripture that kept rolling through my mind. I've learned not to ignore these things it's usually for a reason, however, since I'm also not necessarily good at remembering the references that go along with them I invested many years ago in a full concordance. So I've spent the last 20-30 minutes looking for what has been just out of reach all day. You'll be happy to know that I found it - if you don't have a good concordance, you might think about getting one, they really are handy!

"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want do do -- this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-- through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin." Paul's writing in Romans 7: 14-25

This is one of those passages that has always been confusing to me (I mean have you ever counted how many times he uses the word "do"), I have to read it very slowly and break it down. It's one that has often come up in studies over the years, but one that I never really connected with. For some reason though, today I think I got a small glimpse of it. Maybe partially because it's hard to describe my current inner struggles, that I get how confused and frustrated Paul must have felt when he was writing about this inner struggle of knowing what's right, wanting to do what's right, but not doing it. Oh, dear God if you would help me to beat this in every decision I make. For so many times, I know the right decision and do the wrong thing in spite of it. Forgive me, Father.

I also happened to find two other passages during my search for the above that really spoke to me vividly tonight. They are both in James, 3:17-18 and 4:6-10.

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
...
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

Oh it sounds so simple... resist and the devil will flee. What truth in that statement, do you know that he has no choice? If you resist him in the name of Christ he has to go. It doesn't say "argue with"... it doesn't say "fight to exhaustion with"... it simply says "resist". I didn't look this up in the Hebrew or Greek or even in Webster's but to me "resist" gives me the picture of a simple "nope, not today". If only I could remember that it's that simple in the midst of it!

And he gives me more grace. Though I don't deserve any to start with, this implies that it isn't a first helping. I don't know about you, but most of the time I can use all the grace I can get. I'm not sure I understand the statement about grieving and joy turning to gloom, it doesn't seem to fit, but I'll think on it. If you have any thoughts, please feel free to share them. Maybe it's connected in some way to the last statement, in that no matter where I'm at emotionally, if I humble myself before Him, He will lift me up and I need no other than that.

Well, I think I should probably end there for now. It's getting on towards bedtime. Thanks for checking in - I'd love to hear from you, please feel free to comment! Have a great day tomorrow and remember to rejoice and be glad, for it's the day the Lord has made!