I’m Working On It
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” - Ephesians 4:22-24
If you want to turn your weaknesses, your Achilles heel, or the thorn in your side into a strength, you must put in the work. After you recognize what that weakness is, and understand the root of it, where it comes from, it is time to do the work. As we have referenced multiple times over the last week, this is not something you can do alone.
We know apart from God we can do nothing. “Trying harder” just doesn’t work. Will power doesn’t work. Because the sinful nature in us is something we far too often choose, and apart from God, will not overcome. Ephesians 4:22-24 says, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
But with God, we can put off these deceitful desires that have corrupted us. The Bible tells us that no temptation has overcome us except that which is common to man. But God has overcome all temptation. And He will guide us and lead us as we work to overcome our weakness. But we must put in the work. You do not just wake up one day and stop sinning, quit your addiction, give up what has been consuming you or holding you back all these years.
You must put in the work. What exactly is the work? God will reveal that to you. When you pray and ask him to help you with your weakness, He will give you work to do. He will allow tests and challenges to come where you have an opportunity to choose against these things, and prove that you do not have to be owned by your Achilles heel. God can give you that power. But you must face it. You cannot run, you cannot just wake up and be on the other side. The work comes first, but it is worth the work.
If you want to turn your weaknesses, your Achilles heel, or the thorn in your side into a strength, you must put in the work. After you recognize what that weakness is, and understand the root of it, where it comes from, it is time to do the work. As we have referenced multiple times over the last week, this is not something you can do alone.
We know apart from God we can do nothing. “Trying harder” just doesn’t work. Will power doesn’t work. Because the sinful nature in us is something we far too often choose, and apart from God, will not overcome. Ephesians 4:22-24 says, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
But with God, we can put off these deceitful desires that have corrupted us. The Bible tells us that no temptation has overcome us except that which is common to man. But God has overcome all temptation. And He will guide us and lead us as we work to overcome our weakness. But we must put in the work. You do not just wake up one day and stop sinning, quit your addiction, give up what has been consuming you or holding you back all these years.
You must put in the work. What exactly is the work? God will reveal that to you. When you pray and ask him to help you with your weakness, He will give you work to do. He will allow tests and challenges to come where you have an opportunity to choose against these things, and prove that you do not have to be owned by your Achilles heel. God can give you that power. But you must face it. You cannot run, you cannot just wake up and be on the other side. The work comes first, but it is worth the work.
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