2:200 – Why Do I Keep Messing Up?

#faithbites #faithjourney messing

Why do I mess up over and over? I get mad at my kids, raise my voice, apologize, and am forgiven. But then, rinse and repeat. I don’t want to keep messing it up, but it seems it’s out of my control. This time was a child wasnt listening and ruining my movie experience. I know I should have been more open and caring but dang it, sometimes you just need to listen.

We can blame sin and temptation. We can also blame that we are broken. Even though that is true and we can be forgiven by Christ, the repetition is getting me down.

Do you have an action that you had doing but you do it anyway?

Scripture

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it – Romans 7:15-20

Reflection

The above scripture can be confusing and takes a few reads to get through it. In a nutshell, it says I want to do good, but can’t. I do what I don’t want to do, even though I know it’s wrong. Basically, I keep messing up because of sin.

This can be quit disheartening. That no matter how good I want to be, I will still mess up.

I don’t have a lot of guidance on this. My only thought is turn it over to God. It sounds easy, but admitting it, out loud to God can help break the cycle. Just as you didn’t start this action or trait overnight, you won’t break it over night. God will help.

Charge

Find one repeated sin or action that you do which you don’t want to do. Write it down. Pray on it. Ask God to help you on it. Then track it. You will see change over time.

Prayer

Lord, help us in our repeated sinning. There are so many times when I look at my actions and wonder why I did that. I know it was wrong, but did it anyway. Help all of us to recognize this and give us the courage to come to you in forgiveness and for help. We know that through your love and grace, we can break the cycle. In your name, Amen.