Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Day 4 ~ Why is this so hard?

Thanks for stopping by today. If you've landed here for the first time, we are on Day 4 of a series I'm calling 31 Days of Renewing.

Yesterday, we talked about how we do not, in ourselves, have the power to renew our minds, but that change is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit.

It sounds simple enough.

But we all know it isn't.

We know what we should do.

But we don't do it.

We're in good company. The Apostle Paul (the very same guy who has exhorted us to renew our minds) had the same problem. In Romans 7, he tells us that he doesn't understand his own actions - he doesn't do what he wants to do, and does the very things he hates (verse 17).

Why? Why is this so hard?

There are a lot of reasons. But here's one that I've found to be true in my own life.

Forgetfulness.

In her book, Grace for the Good Girl, Emily Freeman makes this statement.

Satan's biggest, most effective weapon against good girls may not be lust or slander or adultery or addiction. It is forgetfulness (p. 170).
What do I forget?
  • I forget what I was.
  • I forget Who saved me and at what price.
  • I forget why I'm here.
But remembering is the first step to renewing.

What about you? What do you think is your biggest obstacle to a renewed mind? Tell us about it in the comments and come back tomorrow as we wade deeper into what renewing our minds looks like.

Related Posts:

  • Day 7 ~ Why am I here?Over the past couple of days, we've been focusing on the things we forget to remember. On Day 5 we remembered who we were. Day 6 was hard for me. Was it for you? Did you watch the video? Because as hard as it is, it'… Read More
  • Day 5 ~ What do I forget to remember? From yesterday - Remembering . . . the first step to renewing. I need to remember who I was. And this was - and often still is - a tricky spot for me. Because by human standards, I wasn't that bad. I accepted Chr… Read More
  • Day 6 ~ At what cost? It's so easy to forget. But so important to remember . . . Who saved me . . . and at what cost. Jesus - the Word made flesh - left the heavens and became man. He died a horrible death. And He did it for me. There is n… Read More
  • Day 4 ~ Why is this so hard? Thanks for stopping by today. If you've landed here for the first time, we are on Day 4 of a series I'm calling 31 Days of Renewing. Yesterday, we talked about how we do not, in ourselves, have the power to renew our minds… Read More
  • Day 3 ~ How do we make the new stick? Romans 12:2 ~ Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV) Yesterday we talked a… Read More

2 comments:

Lucilu said...

Forgetting...
That's really insightful. I agree that is a big problem. Maybe another one of my problems is "the tyranny of the urgent." Everything that's begging for my immediate attention wins. Often times I set aside my "schedule," my own needs, and displace responsibilities. It's hard to get the right balance.

Lynn Huggins Blackburn said...

Lucilu-"the tyranny of the urgent" is a big one for me to.