Romans 7:15, 19, 24
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do.
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. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?
Stop the Negative Self-Talk Holy Habits
Breaking Bad Habits Stop Trying
You in Five Years?
Real change isn’t behavior modification. Real change is spiritual transformation.
Romans 7:24-25 TLB
So you see how it is: my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible predicament I’m in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ, our Lord. He has set me free.
God, then me. God, not me. God, through me.
1 Corinthians 15:9-10
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
Romans 8:11
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Your spiritual “why” is God’s purpose for you. Your spiritual “how” is God’s power through you.
Zechariah 4:6b
“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the LORD Almighty.
I am disciplined. Christ in me is stronger than the wrong desires in me.
Philippians 4:13 NKJV
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
If you change your behavior but don’t change your heart, the behavior will come back.
John 15:5
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.
You’re trying to meet a need or relieve a hurt with something besides God’s grace.
2 Corinthians 12:9 TLB
Each time he said, “No. But I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people.” Now, I am glad to boast about how weak I am; I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ’s power instead of showing off my own power and abilities.
Proverbs 3:9 MSG
Honor GOD with everything you own; give him the first and the best.