Have you ever been disappointed with yourself because you seem to keep going back to the same sinful pattern? If you have, then you're not alone. Every Christian has passed through this test and is most probably still going through a similar test.
No matter how hard we try to change our sinful nature, we just can't. Primarily, the reason could be because many of us try to change our own habits on our own instead of relying on the Spirit of God to transform us.
But even with that, there always seems to be a sin that we are to deal with again. First it was lying, and then you overcame that, and then comes covetousness. There's always a sin issue in our hearts. Why can't God just take it all away right then and there?
I like how the apostle Paul puts this into perspective in Philippians 3:12, where he says, "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own." God is progressively working in each of our lives to slowly and surely bring us to greater glory. To God, slow is fast.
You have flesh in you
1 John 1:8 tells us, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Not one person in this earth walks free of sin. Now, I hope that never becomes an excuse to stay comfortable in sin, but, rather, let this be an assurance that there is now no condemnation in Christ Jesus.
While we are on this earth, we will have our imperfect and selfish flesh to deal with, but the day will come that we will overcome and we make it a goal to press forward as Paul did, chasing after God's progressive sanctification step by step.
You have spirit in you
Galatians 5:17 says, "For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."
In the same way we exist in flesh, we also exist as spirit. Once the Spirit of God overcomes our spirit, our spirit now clashes with the flesh, resulting in a constant battle for one to win over the other.
God's Spirit is more powerful
We may lose to the flesh at one point or another, but God has promised that as we have placed our faith in Him, our victory is guaranteed because 1 John 4:4 promises that "he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom, and we have access to that Spirit that manifests and slowly brings about a refreshing transformation in our lives. Lordship is a continuous walk and it never ends. That is why we are to abide in God always and find ways to continue to seek His kingdom and righteousness that is to be made real here on earth as it is in heaven.
