Despite your best efforts, do you sometimes find yourself doing things you’d rather not do? Or do you struggle to do the things you know you should do? You’re not alone! Even the great Apostle Paul exclaimed “…I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” (Romans 7:18-19 NLT) And usually, accompanying this type of struggle is a serious attack of guilt and condemnation that will rob a person of joy and fulfilment.
But thank God, the solution is in Jesus Christ! (Romans 7:25)
When we hear (or are reminded of) a truth, the natural tendency is to want to immediately carry out an action that is in line with that knowledge. While such knee-jerk reactions may bring a measure of gratification and success in the interim, they will most certainly not last because they are fuelled only by natural wisdom and will power, and not by the power of God.
Do not take the limited knowledge you have and immediately run with it. What you need to do, first and foremost, is to turn to God and consult him. This is how we show our dependence on God. Take the word of God (knowledge) regarding that issue/desire/habit and consistently pray Ephesians 1:17-21 over it. Ask God to give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation; to open the eyes of your heart to see that matter exactly as he sees it. He will begin to unveil his perfect wisdom to you and show you exactly what to do and how to do it. And as you carry out what he shows you, the power of God (the same power that raised Christ from the dead) will be released to help you, and the change you seek will truly become effortless.
“Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.” – Proverbs 16:3 AMP