Doing What Is Right Is Usually What Is Not Convenient

"For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do." - Romans 7:15

That was the Apostle Paul referring to his personal struggle. He knew what he is supposed to do - the "what" having been revealed to him by the Spirit of God and even Jesus on the road. I am certain you have heard the saying, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions!" Those good intentions are what we, like Paul, "will to do". I know, personally, that what we know we should do with respect to our faith we often find it hard to do in practice. God's call comes at the most inconvenient times it seems. Paul went on to write .... 

"I [Paul] find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members." - Romans 7:21-23

We may understand that there is one thing we need to do, but our old nature - the "reasonable and responsible" self in us - will present a reasonable argument about why there are other things that are more important than what the Spirit of God has brought to mind. So we reject those things - or more subtly put them on a second list  - the "I will do these things if I have time" list. The thing is - we never seem to have time. In actuality, we have effectively allowed our old nature to dominate our lives and quench to leading of the Spirit. The Word says .....

"Do not quench the Spirit." - 1 Thessalonians 5:19

Or said in another way, do not put the Spirit's fire out! We would never want to admit that is what we are doing - but would rather offer up excuses or rationalize as to why we chose to do something else. I once heard a breakdown of the word "rationalize". Those thoughts we have are "RATIONAL"-"LIES". They are lies we tell ourselves to avoid obeying the leading of the Spirit. Why would God ask you to do something when He knows how busy you are? If that were the case, then that would make you right and God wrong. Hey isn't that the same logic Adam and Eve used in the Garden?

There is a book called the "Tyranny of The Urgent". It says that everything in life can be put into 4 boxes. Urgent - Important; Not Urgent Important; Urgent - Not Important; and Not Urgent - Not Important. We "should" use the Word of God as our guide for what goes in what box. The question for each of us is, "Have we put what the Spirit has directed us to do in the wrong box. 

Maybe it is time that you checked what is on your second list to see if you are missing God. That is - if you are serious. If not - you can always do it later when you have time. Someone once described it as keeping the main thing the main thing.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone