The questions like this one are laid out for me in Romans 7. There are so many things going on in life, giftings, and personalities that I see that I am unable to master at least one of my known impulses. I am finding myself these days going to those parts of myself and actually identifying what it is that is defeating me. One of those things is the desire for people to truly value me. As I walk with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God through this, I know that my moments of repentance will change me when see this for what it really is. I know that I may not have the victory but the grip will be loosened.

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.  For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,  but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. – Romans 7:14-25  ESV

I believe I am not discipling perfect people myself, rather godly people – those who love God with all their heart and are making it their decision to follow Jesus.

There is no doubt that one of the most discouraging realisations for a new Christian is that they still sin. Too many of us are handcuffed to our past. There is the “tried and failed” look all over us – just look at the stats of life compared to those who do not follow Jesus, especially if we noted divorce, depression and just generally living a dysfunctional life. Unfortunately being stuck in a Romans 7 mindset of inevitable failure does not lead to hope, in fact, too many lose it.

Thankfully, as I look to what defeats me – I have Romans 8 still to read.