For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
-Romans 7:18
Christmas is in our rearview mirror and we are now in a brand new year. For many of us, it is naturally a time to reflect on the past year and the things we would like to change in the new one.
Why is it so many New Year’s resolutions fail? You may have resolved and failed so many times throughout the years that you no longer bother making resolutions.
I am not here to tell you whether or not to make a resolution. I do, however, want to search for a real, lasting solution for positive change in my life and yours.
Here in our Romans passage, Paul the apostle is speaking of war. This war is difficult to detect from the outside, but it rages in every person on the inside. Paul is speaking of the war between the good things of God’s spirit and the evil things of our fallen human nature. I am certain you can identify with Paul when he says, “I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.”
On the night when Jesus was about to be betrayed, He took three of His closest disciples into a garden to pray and keep watch. They all fell asleep rather than stay awake in their friend’s greatest hour of need. Jesus’ words to them sound like He could say the same to me each time I fail: “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Many times, we know what needs to change in our lives. We don’t necessarily lack direction. We resolve to do better. But when challenges arise, or change takes too long or requires too much self-sacrifice, we give in to our old sinful ways.
We lack inner strength. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
God is not surprised by our failures! He knows our frames, that we are but dust. After all, He is the one who formed our bodies from the ground and breathed life into us. God knows better than we do, how utterly dependent we are on His sustaining Spirit. This is why He sent His Son Jesus into the world, a light shining in the darkness.
The world doesn’t recognize this pure and good light of Christ because it comes from without. It is foreign to the world’s dark ways.
We don’t need better resolve to keep our resolutions; we need the light of the Spirit of Christ to come from without and dwell within our sinful bodies. We need Emmanuel, God with us. We need the good, perfect, and tireless strength of the Holy Spirit within us. Strength within, from without.
This January, let your most important resolution be repentance. When we agree with God that we are wrong and turn our inclinations toward Him, all other changes follow. If you are a Christian, you have already been given every resource you need through the Holy Spirit that lives inside you! He is always near, but we need to allow Him to be foremost.
Allie
