Why do I do it!

As I watch my 2 year old Grandson lay on the floor and fuss because he wants crackers for breakfast instead of French Toast and I watch as my teens protest at going to bed at a decent hour because they are sure they can get by on 6 hours of sleep.  I am reminded of my own childish acts of rebellion toward my heavenly Father…I wonder..”why do I do it!” “why do they do it!?”

It’s important for me to remember that parenting,  grand parenting and my own personal growth are long term projects!  This life and our training of our children/grandchildren is a marathon not a sprint.

Sometimes I can grow impatient with my children and their childish thinking.  Yet it should not surprise me in the least.  Yes it is important that we have some goals in mind for our children.  Certain milestones shall we say,  such as most children should be potty trained by the time they go to school.  That teens should be responsible for their own homework by the time they are in high school..these of course are exaggerations…mostly because I don’t want to put my expectations on your family and children.

I always try to look at my parenting through the eyes of how God see’s me as my heavenly Father.  Boy do I fall short.  Sometimes I’m the biggest baby of all.  Right now God is really dealing with me in an area that I thought I had under control a few years ago..NOT.  I’ve been fighting and struggling with God..wanting to do things my way.  Avoiding the work it takes to achieve the goals He wants for me.  Of course if I want to be in God’s will I will want the same things He wants for me..right!? 

So why do we fight and struggle about things that we know are right?  We rebel,  we want to do things our own way..whether it leads to destruction or not.  Do you ever ask yourself  “why do I do it?!”

Romans 7:18

“I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.”

Romans 7:21

“So I find this law at work:  When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.  For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;  but I see another law at work in the members of my body,  waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.”

Ouch!! I don’t like it!  So how do I escape this curse??  How do I do what I don’t want to do because I know it’s right?  Well of course there is no other way except being spirit filled and obedient. 

Romans 7:24-25

“What a wretched man I am?  Who will rescue me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Romans 8:10-11

“But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin,  yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.  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 through his Spirit,  who lives in you.”

Whoosh! What a relief!  God will give me the power,  the same power that raised Christ from the dead!  Will it be easy to submit to this awesome power that is given..nope..because our flesh wants to do it’s own thing.

So as I look at my kids/grandkids and think to myself,  “what a childish decision you are making”  I need to remember that they too need the power of Christ.  They too need to learn how to access that Power. 

This life is a Marathon not a Sprint..so the best thing to do is to enjoy the ride,  not beat ourselves up,  give others a break and keep our eyes focused on the only ONE that can give us the power to overcome.

In case you are wondering what I am struggling so much with..it’s obedience to exercise!  What do you struggle with?  Do you believe God will help you?  Will you obey whatever it is He requires of you to make changes in your life?

I hope you will join this Marathon with me..because I’m weak and need some runners beside me