Power to Overcome

"It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin."~Romans 7:21-25 NLT


My name is Debbie, and I am addicted to sugar. Yes, I could see myself standing up at a Sugaraholic Anonymous meeting sincerely stating those exact words. Cravings for sugar have existed within me all my life. The more sugar I eat, the more sugar I want. So, the battle rages within me to make good decisions based on the truths I've come to understand about staying healthy. Although, I comprehend the truth, I sometimes fail and push the boundaries. 


Several years ago, I noticed that for the first time in my life my weight was starting to creep up on me. The pounds were starting to add up. I knew I was going to have to change my lifestyle in more than one way. I began running again and found that just adding exercise maintained the weight I felt was acceptable. I thought I had found a way around my sugar addiction. If I exercised, I could still eat most anything I wanted and not gain weight. Well, when I turned 50, I found out a terrible truth, and that was that I was now going to have to not only exercise, but eat healthy as well, and GIVE UP MOST ALL THOSE SUGARY TREATS! Did I say GIVE UP MOST ALL THOSE SUGARY TREATS?  I still tremble about the moment I realized that a weekly Snickers bar would no longer be a part of my life. 


At first, it was mind over matter, I read everything on food, exercise, calories, good fats, bad fats, and I became a health nut. My co-workers couldn't believe that I could turn down the candy and sweets that came in the door most every day. I was very proud that I had accomplished this. I thought the addiction was beat, but then it happened. It was just a little treat here and a little treat there. I was still running, but I was falling right back into my bad eating habits.  It was then that I realized I can't do this on my own. I had given myself all the credit for this great accomplishment, and I became grimly aware that I needed help. It was then that I prayed to God and asked for help. I'm getting back on track now, and I no longer count on myself to beat my sugar addiction because I know God is helping me, and with Him all things are possible.


When Paul wrote this letter to the Romans, I believe he came to realize that he, like most others, was addicted to sin. He didn't want to sin. He wanted to follow the laws, but it didn't seem to matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't do it on his own. Feeling miserable about himself, Paul found help and relief through Jesus. Jesus was there to take away those miserable feelings of failure by taking on the burdens of sin, and He was there to give counsel on how to navigate our lives in a Christ like way that leads away from our sinful nature.   


As the years pass, I know there will continue to be those moments when I really want to choose sugary treats instead of healthy ones, but I hope that I, like Paul, find a way to hand this burden of sin over to Jesus. I know He will instill within me the ability and strength to make better choices, and I need to listen to that little voice inside that I so often refer to as the Holy Spirit to guide me away from sin to live my life in a more Christ like manner. If I learn to listen for guidance to tackle the little daily struggles in my life, I believe I will be more apt to deal with the bigger trials in life. Once you count on Jesus for the little things, it becomes natural to count on Him for the big ones. Whether the need be great or small, we can count on Him to lead us.


Let us pray:
Heavenly Counselor:
Each of us is born with a sinful nature, and we continue to make wrong decisions sometimes even when we know better. Help us grow closer to you so that we may become more receptive to listening as you counsel us throughout our lives whether it be in small or big decisions. Thank you for sending Jesus to take the burden of our sins from our lives so that we can start each day fresh and new with You.
Amen