I Can't Juggle Any Faster

I have determined that it is theoretically impossible for more than one aspect of self-discipline in my life to go well all at the same time.

Now, y'all know about the struggle I've been having these past weeks with Mount Washmore, the never-ending pile of laundry in my garage. I decided to take it on the same way you eat an elephant...one bite at a time. And little by little, sock by sock and towel by towel, I am proud to announce it is finally, at long last, a fait accompli! It is FINISHED!! IT IS DONE!!

At least for now.

Of course, certain household chores never end, do they? Laundry and dishes come to mind first, but there are a myriad of other jobs that constantly need attention. And added to that are disciplines in my own life that need consideration as well. My inattention to what goes into my mouth and ends up on my hips being one. Another would be my lack of patience with my children. And then there's my failure to complete even the simple act of daily devotions.

So while I may be rockin' in the washer and dryer department, other areas of my life are down the tubes. When I think I've overcome one area of disrepair, yet another rears its ugly head. At my advanced age, I don't have many years left to get this right. I keep making the same mistakes over and over and over again, without a clue as to why or what to do to correct the situation.

If you happen to be reading this and you're one of those "got it all together" people, please note my brilliant green eyes. They become very evident when that jealous monster inside my head meets one of you. Because I have yet to figure out how to be like you; in control, organized, calm, cool, collected, and ready for whatever life throws at me.

The following passage describes me to a "T." I can't help but believe it was written to those of us who know and love God, but still feel as though we fail Him with our pitiful little efforts. I know I fall into that category. Do you?

Romans 7:14 - 25

Struggling with Sin

So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. 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. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

I have discovered this principle 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. (NLT - emphasis mine)