Trying harder does not work . . . !

Numbers 5; Psalm 39; Song of Songs 3; Hebrews 3

A child became angry and hurt another person. He was mortified at his actions and made a vow to never again lose his temper. In adulthood, he is always level-headed, never seems to get angry, but also cannot express joy. Shutting off negative emotions has its benefits but also this terrible side-effect; positive emotions are turned off too.

This is not psychological gobbledygook. It is expressed in the Psalms by David, a man of God.

I said, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.” I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse. My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: (Psalm 39:1–3)

David wanted to be silent. He resolved to not sin with his mouth, particularly around wicked people. However, this was not the self-discipline that comes from the Holy Spirit. It was human resolve and it didn’t work. He eventually had to speak.

I’m thinking about bad habits. How common is it to determine to eat less and then find ourselves always hungry and looking for a snack? How often have I decided not to do something and wound up doing it even more? Or decided to start a new behavior, like a certain type of exercise, but in only a few days forgot all about it?

I’ve read books. One recent title was “Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science (A Guide for Sinners, Quitters, and Procrastinators)” Even with this grand title, it was mostly about trying harder and fit David’s example; it didn’t give helpful advice or go beyond whatever I’ve tried and found wanting.

David’s next words in this psalm hint at the beginning of what does work regarding self-control . . .

“O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah (Psalm 39:4–5)

Human resolve is based on a human “I can do this” notion, an idea that fits with my biggest problem — sin. The Bible is clear that sin is “turning to my own way” (Isaiah 53:6) even if that way seems like a good thing. It does not work. In fact, “the way that seems right” can lead to death. (Proverbs 16:25) Instead of my way, God’s way is to remember that He is my Savior from sin. I cannot save myself — even by making a deep resolve and effort to do so, even for things like eating habits because this is “my own way” not His way.

As a new Christian, God struck me with the importance of one verse to the process of spiritual growth and overcoming sin. At first it seemed like an accidental discovery, even a coincidence. I know better now. The verse is:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

He does it. I only need to own up to the sin and that I cannot fix myself. My life is fleeting, nothing before God, a mere breath, yet He is my Lord and my Savior. He grants the power of His Holy Spirit to give me the kind of self-control that works, that sustains. It isn’t by resolution, trying harder, focusing better, gritting my teeth and being determined, or a deeper resolve. It is by admitting that I am weak, willful and unable. It is by looking at my self-effort and realizing that it too is sin because I am ignoring God and trying to do my own thing.

This does not negate obedience, but obedience is also a thing of the Spirit, motivated and enabled by Him. Why? So the Lord gets the glory and I cannot boast, so I cannot pridefully say or even think “look what I did” and elevate myself in my own eyes or in the eyes of others.

APPLY: Two habits come to mind. Small things in the minds of some but enslaving in my estimation and totally resistant to self-effort. I am such a slow learner. Thank You Lord for giving me this reminder to go Your way instead of continuing to frustrate myself with trying harder.

Living by the Spirit

Today ends the readings in Galatians. It also marks for me a much deeper recognition of the power of the old nature. My sinful self can take even legitimate desires like the hunger for food, the desire to do well, and a dozen other things and try to fulfill them in ways that God does not sanction.

I’ve been reading Atomic Habits and it uses ordinary life to show how easily I have formed bad habits. While I don’t agree with the ways he suggests how to change those (he knows nothing about confession of sin and relying on Jesus), I can certainly see things that need to be changed. Some of them are not too vital but one or two involved fleshy responses to personal needs. They don’t work. They also deny God.

I’m convicted as I read again about the false teachers in Galatia who were luring the church away from trusting God. They wanted to keep one Law of God and were convinced that this made them better than others who didn’t do the same as they did. All their efforts were sinful and from the flesh . . .

It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:12–16)

I tried reading this passage by substituting things that Christians can get hung up on. Some are silly, at least to me, like “Men must wear a suit and tie to church” or “Women must wear a hat to church.” I’ve known church-goers who insist on such ‘rules’ and try to convince others to conform. This is folly and fleshy.

As for my fleshy ways, most are rooted in deeper issues. If I read them into this passage, I can see the black and white that before has been gray. The black is stop relying on the flesh to fill the gaps in my life. The white is putting all my trust in Jesus who has promised to meet all my needs . . . and if He doesn’t, to trust Him anyway! The gray is not realizing that I was in a fog.

The author of the Bible study book I am reading says this: “When applied, the Gospel gives the individual freedom from bondage to sin, victory over the flesh (the old nature within), and the ability to show forth works of righteousness. All this is set within the framework of the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life.”

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Jesus, You know my heart. I recently prayed the request in Psalm 139: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23–24) and You have again answered that prayer. I know the only way to stop living according to the flesh in any part of my life is to confess the sin, trusting You to forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). And You add: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

Today’s thankful list . . .

Another day of sunshine and clear blue sky.

Another long walk in a lovely day.

My hairdresser.

Kids making mac and cheese amid lots of noise.

Chocolate bars.

Leftover Asian food.

Talented artists.

The ability to make design changes out of mistakes.

Let the Spirit do His work!

The women in my group at Bible study talked about self-examination so we can see our sin and what we need to deal with. My take? This task belongs to the Holy Spirit. He sees more clearly than I do, knows my heart, and knows the best time to reveal sinfulness to me. If He showed me the depth of my sin in the beginning of my Christian walk, I would likely consider suicide!

However, seeing my sinfulness is necessary, both at the time of salvation and throughout my walk with Christ. Today’s devotional illustrates this with the story of Zacchaeus, the short man who climbed a tree to see Jesus as He passed by:

“And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.’ So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, ‘He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.’” (Luke 19:5–7)

The rest of the story indicates how this encounter with Jesus changed Zacchaeus’ heart and produced fruit in his life that indicated he had new life from God. The devotional writer uses this coming down from his perch to say that, “Anyone who experiences the grace of God in salvation will be brought down in the dust of humiliation before the throne of his sovereign mercy. Before God exalts a man, he abases him. Before God clothes any sinner with the garments of Christ’s righteousness, he strips the sinner of the filthy rags of his own righteousness.”

He goes on to make a plea, which applies to sinners not yet saved, but also Christians whose pride is getting in the way of their maturity. The Bible verifies this application by saying:

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6–7)

I was saved by realizing I could not save myself. I grow in my Christian life by realizing the same thing. When I am trusting myself in any way, ignoring the teaching I have learned from the Lord, and am grumbling and not thankful, I need to pay attention and listen to this plea:

“Come down. You must come down from your own good works and come down from your own self-sufficiency. That is another great step downward, but it must be taken . . . Come down from all your hope in yourself and in what you do. Come down until you see that you are utterly without strength, until you are utterly lost, until you see that you are nothing and can do nothing. Come down until . . . you are made to see that you justly deserve to die. Come down until you are made to see your utter wickedness, vileness, corruption and filthiness. You must come down, down to the feet of Christ. The place of mercy is in the dust. Come down!”

The devotional writer uses dramatic language, but sometimes a strong message is needed to shake loose the complacency of taking the grace of God for granted and letting pride run my life instead of the grace of God.

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Jesus, You know how this happens for You see the human heart and the effects of the self-life. Like Paul, I want to do right, but that old nature has other ideas. Besides the struggle with the flesh, the devil would have me thinking I’ve reached the heights and arrived, that I am no more in need of Your mercy and can coast from now on. How foolish. The good news of the Gospel is not only for those who have not yet believed, but also for those who have received Christ. May I remember this, walk in You, rely on You, never assuming I have reached that goal, but always move toward it.