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The Man Within: Wrestling My Sinful Nature


A hooded man stands in a boxing ring with fists raised, facing a dark, shadowy figure that represents his sinful nature. A warm beam of light highlights his focused expression as he prepares to fight the inner battle.
Even after salvation, the battle within continues. The flesh doesn’t go quietly—but by God’s strength, we stay in the fight.

I’m back at Kaiser for an appointment today—please pray for wisdom and guidance.

These verses from Romans always hit home. They remind me that I’m in a battle every single day. My sinful nature never truly leaves; it’s always lurking just beneath the surface, ready to break through and reveal its ugly head.


What I’ve learned—what I know for sure—is that trying to fight that nature on my own is pointless. Expecting to win without God’s help? It’s silly. I’ll lose every time. I’ll give in to pressure and end up doing the very thing I hate. The things I know are wrong. I’ll choose lust and anger over love and compassion. Even when I know better. Even when I know God’s truth.

Because the truth is: my power is in God alone. Outside of Him, I am hopeless.


So I lean in. I press close to Him. I stay in His Word and keep praying, even when it’s hard. Because that’s the only way. The only hope. The only shelter is in the shadow of the Almighty.

Amen.


Romans 7:14–23 (NLT)

[14] So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.[15] I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.[16] But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.[17] So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.[18] And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.[19] I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.[20] But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.[21] I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.[22] I love God’s law with all my heart.[23] But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.


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