Sometimes, I get caught up in the call to action of the verse 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” It is a lot to process. It becomes a moment-to-moment choice and a laying down your wants and needs. Wow, that is hard. I know I can’t do this alone. I need to pray it out loud, write it down, share it with others and soak in the truth in the Word of God. It takes discipline and commitment. How come some habits are easier to keep? A new exercise routine or eating habits become exciting and fulfilling. You start to see results and feel great! Then, other habits that are not healthy are hard to break.

This graphic included today speaks volumes. Ballet shoes don’t fix themselves and become well-worn and easier to dance in. My two younger girls dance. It takes commitment, determination and an all-in attitude! We all have things we do. We have jobs, gifts and callings no matter what age. As believers, we are to give God glory in all we do, even while we dance!
Recently, I chatted with a dear friend, and we talked about hard things in our lives and our choices. It was so encouraging to know that I was not alone! We spoke truth to one another and committed to prayer, and wow, just knowing I had that prayer support was just what I needed! It is a daily choice to give God the glory in all we do, and that means making decisions about habits that do not glorify him.

I am currently reading “Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life” by Paul Tripp. The November 19 devotional is based on Romans 7-8, and Paul Tripp shares Romans 7:15-25,

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.  So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.  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.  For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.  Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Paul Tripp wisely writes, “Why do we still struggle to do what is right? Paul’s answer is that we struggle because sin still lives inside of us. Yes, we have been justified, but our sin has not yet been totally eradicated…Paul also says that sin is a war. We fight in this war, and the battleground is our hearts.”

We need Jesus and his incredible offering of forgiveness and grace in our lives. When we surrender our lives to him, we can firmly trust that we don’t fight our battles alone! We have the Holy Spirit,

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)

 

This is the encouragement my heart needed today, and I pray it encourages you. As I often do, I love to add songs to my posts as I know the incredible gift of worship music has been to my life.

Here are a few songs to listen to on repeat!

 

 

https://store.paultripp.com/