You too? Do you find, far more often than you like, that sometimes you shoot yourself in the foot of cut off your nose to spite your face? WHY!!!? Why do we do this! And never respond with – I’m only human. Duh. Of course you’re human! Not to be despised or used as a excuse. Never forget that God breathed the breath of life into us! YOU have been made in the image of the Creator of the universe!
Why we engage in these self-defeating behaviors is not a simple answer… which means that the change/correction answer is not easy. There are myriad of reasons why we do this and the subsequent resolutions. However… you aren’t alone in this dilemma. Even Paul found himself bemoaning this fact.
“For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled and bewildered by them]. I do not practice what I want to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate [and yielding to my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity].” (Romans 7:15, AMP)
For me, Paul’s acknowledgement of his condition lets me know that I’m not alone in this. And it gives me hope that the Lord can still use me in my unrefined condition… right where I am. But… You do realize that you don’t need to continue doing this… at least as often or for as long. I think that a big part of our dilemma is that we don’t have a good perspective of ourselves.
It really isn’t always a poor self image as much as it isn’t a correct or complete one. Yes we have flaws, yes we sin and make mistakes, yes we aren’t worthy, yes, yes, yes. But that isn’t the whole picture of us. We are made in God’s image, we have His breath that gave us life, we are trying to become our best, yes, yes, yes. Point: if God hasn’t given up on you… why should you! If you are really trying to do and be your best – that’s all He’s asking. He never wanted us to stay in the condition we were in when He saved us, so He is always present to help us
“For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin.” (Hebrews 4:15, AMP)
Turn to Him and He will give you peace, rest, encouragement, and an understanding that should fortify us to continue. Don’t buy the lies and half truths. Discover who you are and act on it, because then you can be your gift to Him.
