Torn

"Yes. I am full of myself. After all- I've spent a long time in sin's prison. What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way and act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary."


"But I need something more! For I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help. I realize that I don't have what it takes . I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decision such as they are do not result my actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of my every time." 


"It happens so readily that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of my joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge." 


"I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?"


"The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different."


Romans 7:15-25 The Message