Why does the heart not always follow the mind? I have all this head knowledge. I’m not talking book knowledge or even life knowledge. It’s more of “what I know is right” knowledge. I know I should go to bed earlier and get up earlier and exercise. But I don’t. Is this the way God made me or am I juts being rebellious towards my head? I know the good things I ought to do and don’t do them. Scripture says this is sin. I know the bad things I ought to stop doing and I don’t. Mixing a little James 4:17 with Romans 7 here.
The struggle is against flesh and blood. Here’s how the last verse in Romans 7 words it:
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Rom. 7:25b
Paul talks about how no matter what he does or thinks, evil is right there next to him, trying to influence his decisions and actions. I am given hope, in an “old Byron” sort of way, yet, in a comforting way that others have struggled with the same issues as I. Not that I wish harm or struggle on anyone (in the old Byron way!), but, rather, that I can hold on to the hope that others have struggled and made it through. I have hope in this:
Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! Rom. 7:24b-25a
