AAUGH!!

"It happens so regularly 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 me 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, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different." Romans 7:21-25

Have you ever decided that you're going to do the right thing every time?  What happened?  I foolishly believed that I could, somehow, make up my mind that I would always do what is right and pleasing to Abba. When I failed, the frustration set in and I would beat myself up because, once again, I had failed.  Once again, I had proven how weak I am. In my mind, I could hear the laughter of the whisperer and feel his rancid words to my soul "See? I TOLD you that you were a worthless waste!"

Sadly, for many years, I believed the whisperer because I simply couldn't seem to get it right.  I finally reached the place in my life where I just decided to give up.  After all, why bother if I can never do what's right consistently?  It was then I found a book entitled, "When Being 'Good Enough' Isn't Good Enough."  The title alone sparked my interest.  So I purchased the book, a cup of coffee and began to read.  I finished reading that entire book that afternoon.  I couldn't put it down.  It was as if Abba was talking directly to my very need.  

You see, if it were possible for me, in my own strength, to do what's right all the time, then the whole reason for Jesus coming to pay my debt was simply a wasted effort!  However, because Jesus came, walked among us, taught us, loved us enough to die for us, my debt is paid. I owe Abba EVERYTHING!

Did the whisperer go away?  Nope.  He still hangs around telling me how worthless I am and how I'll never amount to anything.  But we both know he is wrong!  Praise be to Abba for adopting me as HIS child and, thus, securing my eternity!