After two days of indulging and knowing today would be more of the same, I mentally chastised myself for being unable to restrain myself. I thought over my year and my attempts to exercise and lose weight, and every other desire of mine to do better and be better, concluding I am unable to do what I desire. I eat the cookies. Not just one or two but whatever is still on the plate. I can’t resist and I don’t want to resist. How will I ever change?

But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

Romans 7:17-20 (MSG)

Such is the story of my life. So do I give up? Oh no! Look at my last two posts. God encourages me to forget what lies behind and persevere.

God isn’t ignorant of our struggles. He purposefully left stories in the Bible to let us know he understands. He isn’t expecting us to be perfect. I know I can’t be perfect. If he required that from me, I would be doomed.

What I can do is learn forgiveness and love, both the giving and receiving. So if someone offers you a cookie out of their love for you this Christmas, forgive yourself the pause in your diet and embrace the opportunity to be part of someone’s celebration of God’s greatest gift of love.

Merry Christmas!

Sandy