The Paradox of Romans 7:18-20

 ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ 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. ²⁰ 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."


Those verses both comfort me and frighten me. As a new creation in Christ, I should be able to "put to death whatever belongs to [my] earthly nature" (Col. 3:5.


I know getting up early and exercising is good for me on many levels. It provides stress release and it is also helping me take care of my body, the temple God has entrusted me with (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Yet, I don't feel like leaving the warmth of my bed when the alarm rings. I know that spending time planning and preparing healthy meals for me and my family is good for all of us, yet watching TV can be SO tempting. I tell myself that I "just don't have the time" to do these things, but that is a lie. I find time to do a lot of things that I want to do. Play video games occasionally, read a book, watch TV. 


I am constantly reminded that I cannot do it on my own, and I don't think that is a bad thing, necessarily. We are told in 2 Corinthians 12:18 that  “[His] grace is sufficient for [us], for [His] power is made perfect in weakness.”


So why is it so hard to just do the things we know are right? Why do we keep doing the things we know aren't? I wish I had the answers. Preview